TL;DR: More overtones sound louder than less overtones, even if the volume is the same. In fact, the type of wound wires can even affect the sound dramatically, and even how comfortable it is to play the strings. (I’ve put a limiter on these samples to -10db. I had heard this many times before, that a thicker string is louder because it is stiffer. How Many Holes Does A Flute Have? The lowest notes on the piano have the thickest strings and the most overtones. eval(ez_write_tag([[468,60],'soundadventurer_com-large-leaderboard-2','ezslot_2',141,'0','0'])); Now what if we apply some distortion to this sine wave but keep the limiter to -10 db, we get something that sounds like this: (Make sure you turn down the volume on your speakers since this sounds quite loud). As we learned with the example above, more overtones means higher perceived loudness. The large ride if you hit it like a crash cymbal will sustain for a long time–while the splash cymbal has a high-pitched and short crash that dies out, quickly. I've been a hobbyist musician since I was in high school and people still point out that I'm whistling or singing without realizing it. I did a spectrum analysis on all three to see if there was any difference in overtones. eval(ez_write_tag([[728,90],'soundadventurer_com-narrow-sky-1','ezslot_16',121,'0','0']));With my microphone at the same setting for all strings and not taking into account the attack (the plucking of the string), I got these results: The 4th string (which is still a wound string) was so loose when down-tuned to E2 you could see it vibrating like crazy, but it was much quieter than the higher tensioned E2 string at .053 inches in diameter. With the dozens of guitar string types out there an inevitable question pops up: What’s the difference between getting lighter (thinner) gauge guitar strings and the heavier (thicker) gauge guitar strings? The highest pitched (the E on the top) string is just a metal wire, while the lower guitar strings are thicker versions of the higher guitar strings with the addition of another wound wire around the core wire. I hope to help you on your journey to find your sound! There are different types of wound wires, some are flat (often used for base or jazz guitarists), others are “half-round” which are just filed down rounds. But what about a Spectrum analysis? Matching up with conventional knowledge, you can see that the overtones are much thinner. This is what the distorted wave form looks like: Notice the distorted sine wave form, it now has three different peaks! Concert Flute, Recorder, Tin Whistle, Fife. I have a passion for music and the amazing sounds in this world.
eval(ez_write_tag([[250,250],'soundadventurer_com-leader-4','ezslot_11',120,'0','0']));I’ll give you a bit of a spoiler. It’s really fantastic when you compare the frequencies of the E2 and the E4, because you can see how the low E2 string wavers and has a very broad spectrum, in comparison to the E4 string which has very tight and solid frequencies. If you have a piano handy, you’ll notice this exact same phenomenon. If the fire alarm went off with a brief half second klaxon and that was it, it wouldn’t feel very loud. As I've been learning about different instruments I've asked some of the most basic questions, such as how many sound holes does a flute have--I've been blown away by how little information there is... What's the Difference Between the Clarinet And the Flute? If you pull back a rubber band with a ton of tension, it’s going to rocket off and probably nail someone in the face. Furthermore, electric guitarists play so loud it’s a lot harder to distinguish between ultra loud and super ultra loud, anyway. The thickness of the string makes a noticeable difference in volume. With all the dozens of instruments, it's easy to get mixed up between them. In fact, I asked this question to a community of guitarists, and about half of the 13 that answered said there was no difference in volume. As a comparison, I also played the G string which is of diameter .024 inches (half the diameter of the low E) string tuned to the low E2: You can see the same breadth of overtones but they are not as strong, especially towards the high end. The thicker diameter means that they don’t cut into your hand quite as much as 9-42 strings do. This site is owned and operated by MindBuilders. An In-Depth Comparison. 2020 Sound Adventurer All Rights Reserved, link to How Many Holes Does A Flute Have? However, what if we add some overtones? Kind of a byproduct of this experiment I realized that the thicker guitar strings sustained their volume for longer than the thinner guitar strings. The tighter you make the string the more potential energy it stores. Take note of the spread of frequencies! That’s the distorted sine wave sound. eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'soundadventurer_com-large-mobile-banner-2','ezslot_8',119,'0','0']));Lastly, I also played E4 on the thinnest string of the guitar which had a diameter of .012 inches. Some things (including guitar strings) will sound louder even if they are not technically a higher amplitude. Even if there technically was a difference in volume, it seems that half of guitarists don’t even think it is noticeable. If you don’t adjust your playing style at all when you put on thicker strings, you will play at a higher volume (you will have to put in slightly more effort to pluck and strum the strings). I got out my guitar and measured the low E2 String, the G String tuned to low E2, and just for fun, I did the high E4 string. eval(ez_write_tag([[728,90],'soundadventurer_com-leader-3','ezslot_10',123,'0','0']));One important thing about this. Notice how the note is only one frequency– it has no overtones. 1st and thickest string at .053 inches in diameter, 2nd string down tuned to E4 at .042 inches in diameter, 4th string down-tuned to E4 at .024 inches in diameter. Just like if you were to continue to pull a rubber band the more potential energy you put into it. There are three big reasons why thicker guitar strings can sound louder than thinner guitar strings: Overtones Stiff strings have more energy Thicker strings sustain longer The same applies to guitar strings to a lesser extent. Founder of this website. They are all the same amplitude)eval(ez_write_tag([[336,280],'soundadventurer_com-banner-1','ezslot_7',140,'0','0'])); So if you listen to a super simple sine with basically no overtones, for example: That’s what this note sounds like, take a look at this picture to see what that looks like. Loudness is an interesting term for music because loudness doesn’t necessarily translate to amplitude. Release string when it has been pulled back 1/8th of an inch. eval(ez_write_tag([[336,280],'soundadventurer_com-mobile-leaderboard-2','ezslot_14',124,'0','0']));The same principle applies to drum cymbals. A tighter string has more energy.