Harmonic Analysis of Mallet Percussion
Harmonic Analysis of Mallet Percussion
By Max CandociaGoalsBasic understanding of sound waves and mallet percussionUnderstand harmonic analysisUnderstand difference in sounds of different mallets and striking location
Emphasize harmonics2MarimbaPhoto courtesy of vichitex.comVibraphonePhoto courtesy of woodbrass.com
Recording: Vermont Counterpoint, Nathaniel BartlettRecording: La Fille Aux Cheveux de Lin, Ozone Percussion Ensemble
XylophonePhoto courtesy of onlinerock.com
Recording: Fantasy on Japanese Wood Prints
Sine:Sawtooth:Sound WavesVibrating medium (ie. Air, water, ground)LongitudinalHarmonicsSinusoidal Components
Images courtesy of Wikipedia
Qualities of HarmonicsFrequencyCycles per second (Hertz); determines pitch
AmplitudePower of wave; determines loudness
PhaseLocation of harmonic relative to other harmonics
Photo courtesy of Wikipedia
Photo courtesy of physics.cornell.edu
Photo courtesy of 3phasepower.orgMight go back a slide to show synthesis of sawtooth wave6Harmonic Analysis
Harmonics of Kelon xylophone struck in center with hard rubber mallet
Sounds are near respective harmonics on graphs; full sound is at top7Vibraphone HarmonicsDry:
Wet:InstrumentMalletLocation# HarmonicsH1 dBH2 dBH3 dBH4 dBH5 dBVibraphoneBlackDry56190.8133VibraphoneBlackWet2161.1VibraphoneRedDry3223.51.5VibraphoneRedWet11VibraphoneWhiteDry4160.590.6VibraphoneWhiteWet2251.5
Sounds are with black mallet on vibes8Xylophone Harmonics
InstrumentMalletLocation# HarmonicsH1 FreqH2 FreqH3 FreqH4 FreqH5 FreqXylophoneHard RubberCenter4886.9175026705100XylophoneHard RubberEdge4886.9176026705150XylophoneHard RubberNode3886.852670.55155XylophoneNatural RubberCenter3886.917502670XylophoneNatural RubberEdge3886.9517602670XylophoneNatural RubberNode5887175921672670.55150XylophonePlasticCenter4886.9175026705100XylophonePlasticEdge4886.95176026705170XylophonePlasticNode3886.852670.55200
On the Node
Marimba Harmonics
InstrumentMalletLocation# HarmonicsH1 FreqH2 FreqH3 FreqH4 FreqMarimbaBlackCenter3221.5665990MarimbaBlackEdge4221.46658852240MarimbaBlackNode3221.5885.52210MarimbaRedCenter2221.6664MarimbaRedEdge3221.4664885.5MarimbaRedNode2221.5885Using a Stick on Marimba
InstrumentMalletLocation# HarmonicsH1 FreqH2 FreqH3 FreqH4 FreqH5 FreqH6 FreqMarimbaStickCenter4222210022102400MarimbaStickEdge3221.58852205MarimbaStickNode6221855.32064221039004460
Use wind in bamboo grove for sound clip?12ConclusionSounds made of harmonicsRelative phase has no apparent pattern in mallet percussionVibraphone very simple sound when wet, more complicated when drySoft mallets on marimba and vibes induce sounds with less harmonicsXylophone has different sounds depending on striking locationHarder mallets on marimba produce trends in harmonics similar to xylophone
Thanks to:Professor Steve ErredeAdam WattsDan Carson3M
Richard Feynman playing conga; photo courtesy of physics.miami.edu
Top Related