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Pitch and Volume Compensations for Different Instruments


Why are drums from high to low and other instruments from low to high?













6















I'm curious if various instruments require that the player compensate in any way (in terms of technique, e.g., force used to bow, force used to blow, or embouchure alterations) when playing low vs. high notes.



On a violin or cello, say, if you use the identical bowing for a low-pitched note vs. a high-pitched note, will one note tend to sound louder than the other or will they both be the same volume? Are string players taught to, say, dig in a little more to make a low-pitched or high-pitched note project relative to the other?



On a clarinet or saxophone, if the exact same embouchure and breath pressure is used on a low-pitched note and a high-pitched note, will they sound at the same volume? (Also, will the upper note tend to be a bit flat or sharp?)



My experience, on the oboe, is that if the exact same breath pressure and embouchure are used on a low note versus a high note, the higher note will tend to be flat and to be the quieter of the two notes. I'm guessing that double reeds have special characteristics that contribute to this phenomena.



As I try and understand the situation better, I thought it might be useful to know if other instruments also require techniques to compensate for volume characteristics that are dependent upon the pitch of the note being played.



EDIT: I realized after posting that this question is more like a survey than a specific problem to be solved and thus it will be difficult to select a "best answer." I do appreciate the answers for specific instruments that arise from direct experience.










share|improve this question
























  • Every instrument has a unique and specific dynamic curve.

    – jjmusicnotes
    May 31 at 3:57















6















I'm curious if various instruments require that the player compensate in any way (in terms of technique, e.g., force used to bow, force used to blow, or embouchure alterations) when playing low vs. high notes.



On a violin or cello, say, if you use the identical bowing for a low-pitched note vs. a high-pitched note, will one note tend to sound louder than the other or will they both be the same volume? Are string players taught to, say, dig in a little more to make a low-pitched or high-pitched note project relative to the other?



On a clarinet or saxophone, if the exact same embouchure and breath pressure is used on a low-pitched note and a high-pitched note, will they sound at the same volume? (Also, will the upper note tend to be a bit flat or sharp?)



My experience, on the oboe, is that if the exact same breath pressure and embouchure are used on a low note versus a high note, the higher note will tend to be flat and to be the quieter of the two notes. I'm guessing that double reeds have special characteristics that contribute to this phenomena.



As I try and understand the situation better, I thought it might be useful to know if other instruments also require techniques to compensate for volume characteristics that are dependent upon the pitch of the note being played.



EDIT: I realized after posting that this question is more like a survey than a specific problem to be solved and thus it will be difficult to select a "best answer." I do appreciate the answers for specific instruments that arise from direct experience.










share|improve this question
























  • Every instrument has a unique and specific dynamic curve.

    – jjmusicnotes
    May 31 at 3:57













6












6








6








I'm curious if various instruments require that the player compensate in any way (in terms of technique, e.g., force used to bow, force used to blow, or embouchure alterations) when playing low vs. high notes.



On a violin or cello, say, if you use the identical bowing for a low-pitched note vs. a high-pitched note, will one note tend to sound louder than the other or will they both be the same volume? Are string players taught to, say, dig in a little more to make a low-pitched or high-pitched note project relative to the other?



On a clarinet or saxophone, if the exact same embouchure and breath pressure is used on a low-pitched note and a high-pitched note, will they sound at the same volume? (Also, will the upper note tend to be a bit flat or sharp?)



My experience, on the oboe, is that if the exact same breath pressure and embouchure are used on a low note versus a high note, the higher note will tend to be flat and to be the quieter of the two notes. I'm guessing that double reeds have special characteristics that contribute to this phenomena.



As I try and understand the situation better, I thought it might be useful to know if other instruments also require techniques to compensate for volume characteristics that are dependent upon the pitch of the note being played.



EDIT: I realized after posting that this question is more like a survey than a specific problem to be solved and thus it will be difficult to select a "best answer." I do appreciate the answers for specific instruments that arise from direct experience.










share|improve this question
















I'm curious if various instruments require that the player compensate in any way (in terms of technique, e.g., force used to bow, force used to blow, or embouchure alterations) when playing low vs. high notes.



On a violin or cello, say, if you use the identical bowing for a low-pitched note vs. a high-pitched note, will one note tend to sound louder than the other or will they both be the same volume? Are string players taught to, say, dig in a little more to make a low-pitched or high-pitched note project relative to the other?



On a clarinet or saxophone, if the exact same embouchure and breath pressure is used on a low-pitched note and a high-pitched note, will they sound at the same volume? (Also, will the upper note tend to be a bit flat or sharp?)



My experience, on the oboe, is that if the exact same breath pressure and embouchure are used on a low note versus a high note, the higher note will tend to be flat and to be the quieter of the two notes. I'm guessing that double reeds have special characteristics that contribute to this phenomena.



As I try and understand the situation better, I thought it might be useful to know if other instruments also require techniques to compensate for volume characteristics that are dependent upon the pitch of the note being played.



EDIT: I realized after posting that this question is more like a survey than a specific problem to be solved and thus it will be difficult to select a "best answer." I do appreciate the answers for specific instruments that arise from direct experience.







technique instruments woodwinds breathing violin-family






share|improve this question















share|improve this question













share|improve this question




share|improve this question








edited May 31 at 7:03







Phil Freihofner

















asked May 30 at 19:38









Phil FreihofnerPhil Freihofner

1,159310




1,159310












  • Every instrument has a unique and specific dynamic curve.

    – jjmusicnotes
    May 31 at 3:57

















  • Every instrument has a unique and specific dynamic curve.

    – jjmusicnotes
    May 31 at 3:57
















Every instrument has a unique and specific dynamic curve.

– jjmusicnotes
May 31 at 3:57





Every instrument has a unique and specific dynamic curve.

– jjmusicnotes
May 31 at 3:57










4 Answers
4






active

oldest

votes


















5














As a brass instrumentalist, I can only speak for that family of instruments.



But the difference required to play in extreme registers is often explained with a simple sentence:




Low notes require more air, high notes require faster air.




And a simple experiment proves this: have a tuba player play, say, a middle C at a forte dynamic level and see how long they can hold it. You'd be amazed at how quickly they need to take a breath when they play that C three (or even just two) octaves lower.






share|improve this answer

























  • Thanks! I am taking "faster" air to mean air being squeezed to a higher pressure level. Air inside our body waiting to go through a mouth piece is mostly standing still. Quibble on my part. Interesting about the volume of air being so different. I wonder why?

    – Phil Freihofner
    May 30 at 23:57











  • Since the bore size is unchanging, "more air" and "faster air" are synonymous. Those terms are useful in pedagogy but don't have much physical meaning.

    – MattPutnam
    May 31 at 2:59











  • The author clearly is using the terms "more air" and "faster air" to refer to different things. I am wondering the difference in the volume of air that is expended may be a side effect of the embouchure needed to get the lips vibrating at the desired rate, or if there is some aspect of a low note that requires more air.

    – Phil Freihofner
    May 31 at 6:16


















3














Physics tells us that higher pitches have more energy. So if we apply the same amount of energy--bow pressure and speed for strings, air for winds--then low notes will naturally be louder.



However, this is pure physics. It's not a huge effect, and the technique involved in playing the actual instrument completely overshadows it. It's most visible on piano, harp, and pitched percussion instruments, since exactly the same technique is used to play across the whole range of the instrument.



With wind instruments, and especially brass instruments, the need to use more air to support higher notes generally means that it's easier to play high notes louder. Players work to be able to play any note at any dynamic, but there's always a point above which you can only play notes loudly.




On a violin or cello, say, if you use the identical bowing for a low-pitched note vs a high-pitched note, will one note tend to sound louder than the other or will they both be the same volume?




The low note will be louder. But there's so much that goes into bowing that I doubt experienced string players think about it at all.




Are string players taught to, say, dig in a little more to make a low-pitched or high-pitched note project relative to the other?




I don't think this is something that has to be explicitly taught. It's just something that will be accounted for in the listening/playing feedback loop. If anything, I suspect that you think about it the other way--not letting low notes "honk" compared to higher notes.




On a clarinet or saxophone, if the exact same embouchure and breath pressure is used on a low-pitched note and a high-pitched note, will they sound at the same volume? (Also, will the upper note tend to be a bit flat or sharp?)




The embouchure has to change a bit to support the pitch. If you try to play a high note with the embouchure for a low note, it will come out flat, and may squeak. So when you do a leap from a low note to a high note, you make a bunch of small adjustments, and one of those is applying a bit more air to support, and that negates the physics effect.






share|improve this answer























  • For what it is worth, I've posted a question about the relationship between frequency and amplitude in the Physics area. There is some fussing about frequency and amplitude being independent parameters, and thus a lack of any correlation. But the math does support a relationship between the attributes if the KE (kinetic energy) or I (intensity) is held constant, which is close to what I believe occurs in how this question is framed. It's not intuitively clearcut when you consider how a low frequency (supposedly with less power) can travel farther, and through walls and rattle objects.

    – Phil Freihofner
    May 31 at 6:58











  • What about elaborating the point about piano and harp, in some way? For example: Piano might have somewhat less flexibility for the player in key action (compared to plucking a harp string directly), but it compensates by having a different number of strings per key. Lowest notes have only one string each, higher notes have more, consistently with your answer. But I'm no specialist on piano construction and I don't know whether this was your implied point.

    – Jirka Hanika
    May 31 at 14:23











  • I also don't know much about piano construction. But I don't think number of strings has anything to do with this. More strings just means that the energy from the hammer is divided amongst the strings, the total energy stays the same. I suspect that the reason for having different numbers of strings is that 3 sounds better, but it gets muddy for low notes.

    – MattPutnam
    Jun 1 at 0:09


















1














Been playing saxophone for 10+ years



The lower notes natrually get louder, and the higher notes tend to get quieter. For lower notes we relax the jaw a bit. Higher notes I'll just be mindful of the tendency and play out a bit more.






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Adam Peters is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.


























    0














    As a former clarinet/sax player and current cellist, I have dealt with these issues most of my life. The other answers cover wind instruments pretty well.



    For string instruments, There are two basic ways to get louder: either press harder (so the string is extended farther before skipping loose from the bow hairs) or play faster (more grab/skip per second hence more energy transfer). But that's just the start.



    WIthin limits, it's easier to generate lound tones by bowing closer to the bridge and soft tones by bowing near the fingerboard. If you look at the absolute amplitude of the vibrating string as a function of position, it's easy to see why.



    Now, for various ugly physics and materials science reasons, the pitch produced varies with pressure and with overall amplitude. We have to make tiny fingering adjustments to stay in tune as the dynamic level changes -- this becomes automatic as our skill progresses.



    And it should be pretty obvious that, due to the large difference in string weight and thickness, which lead to different elastic response, that each string has to be bowed at different speeds and pressures to optimize the output tone and timbre.






    share|improve this answer























    • Good explanation of how to change volume and tone. If wanting to play at the same volume for a note low on the fingerboard and high on the fingerboard (same string), do you use the same bowing or make adjustments?

      – Phil Freihofner
      Jun 2 at 4:11











    • @PhilFreihofner In general, we move the bow towards the bridge as the fingering moves up the fingerboard. This more or less maintains the relative position of the bow compared to the fingered string length.

      – Carl Witthoft
      2 days ago









    protected by Doktor Mayhem May 31 at 8:35



    Thank you for your interest in this question.
    Because it has attracted low-quality or spam answers that had to be removed, posting an answer now requires 10 reputation on this site (the association bonus does not count).



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    4 Answers
    4






    active

    oldest

    votes








    4 Answers
    4






    active

    oldest

    votes









    active

    oldest

    votes






    active

    oldest

    votes









    5














    As a brass instrumentalist, I can only speak for that family of instruments.



    But the difference required to play in extreme registers is often explained with a simple sentence:




    Low notes require more air, high notes require faster air.




    And a simple experiment proves this: have a tuba player play, say, a middle C at a forte dynamic level and see how long they can hold it. You'd be amazed at how quickly they need to take a breath when they play that C three (or even just two) octaves lower.






    share|improve this answer

























    • Thanks! I am taking "faster" air to mean air being squeezed to a higher pressure level. Air inside our body waiting to go through a mouth piece is mostly standing still. Quibble on my part. Interesting about the volume of air being so different. I wonder why?

      – Phil Freihofner
      May 30 at 23:57











    • Since the bore size is unchanging, "more air" and "faster air" are synonymous. Those terms are useful in pedagogy but don't have much physical meaning.

      – MattPutnam
      May 31 at 2:59











    • The author clearly is using the terms "more air" and "faster air" to refer to different things. I am wondering the difference in the volume of air that is expended may be a side effect of the embouchure needed to get the lips vibrating at the desired rate, or if there is some aspect of a low note that requires more air.

      – Phil Freihofner
      May 31 at 6:16















    5














    As a brass instrumentalist, I can only speak for that family of instruments.



    But the difference required to play in extreme registers is often explained with a simple sentence:




    Low notes require more air, high notes require faster air.




    And a simple experiment proves this: have a tuba player play, say, a middle C at a forte dynamic level and see how long they can hold it. You'd be amazed at how quickly they need to take a breath when they play that C three (or even just two) octaves lower.






    share|improve this answer

























    • Thanks! I am taking "faster" air to mean air being squeezed to a higher pressure level. Air inside our body waiting to go through a mouth piece is mostly standing still. Quibble on my part. Interesting about the volume of air being so different. I wonder why?

      – Phil Freihofner
      May 30 at 23:57











    • Since the bore size is unchanging, "more air" and "faster air" are synonymous. Those terms are useful in pedagogy but don't have much physical meaning.

      – MattPutnam
      May 31 at 2:59











    • The author clearly is using the terms "more air" and "faster air" to refer to different things. I am wondering the difference in the volume of air that is expended may be a side effect of the embouchure needed to get the lips vibrating at the desired rate, or if there is some aspect of a low note that requires more air.

      – Phil Freihofner
      May 31 at 6:16













    5












    5








    5







    As a brass instrumentalist, I can only speak for that family of instruments.



    But the difference required to play in extreme registers is often explained with a simple sentence:




    Low notes require more air, high notes require faster air.




    And a simple experiment proves this: have a tuba player play, say, a middle C at a forte dynamic level and see how long they can hold it. You'd be amazed at how quickly they need to take a breath when they play that C three (or even just two) octaves lower.






    share|improve this answer















    As a brass instrumentalist, I can only speak for that family of instruments.



    But the difference required to play in extreme registers is often explained with a simple sentence:




    Low notes require more air, high notes require faster air.




    And a simple experiment proves this: have a tuba player play, say, a middle C at a forte dynamic level and see how long they can hold it. You'd be amazed at how quickly they need to take a breath when they play that C three (or even just two) octaves lower.







    share|improve this answer














    share|improve this answer



    share|improve this answer








    edited May 31 at 0:12

























    answered May 30 at 19:59









    RichardRichard

    47.8k7115204




    47.8k7115204












    • Thanks! I am taking "faster" air to mean air being squeezed to a higher pressure level. Air inside our body waiting to go through a mouth piece is mostly standing still. Quibble on my part. Interesting about the volume of air being so different. I wonder why?

      – Phil Freihofner
      May 30 at 23:57











    • Since the bore size is unchanging, "more air" and "faster air" are synonymous. Those terms are useful in pedagogy but don't have much physical meaning.

      – MattPutnam
      May 31 at 2:59











    • The author clearly is using the terms "more air" and "faster air" to refer to different things. I am wondering the difference in the volume of air that is expended may be a side effect of the embouchure needed to get the lips vibrating at the desired rate, or if there is some aspect of a low note that requires more air.

      – Phil Freihofner
      May 31 at 6:16

















    • Thanks! I am taking "faster" air to mean air being squeezed to a higher pressure level. Air inside our body waiting to go through a mouth piece is mostly standing still. Quibble on my part. Interesting about the volume of air being so different. I wonder why?

      – Phil Freihofner
      May 30 at 23:57











    • Since the bore size is unchanging, "more air" and "faster air" are synonymous. Those terms are useful in pedagogy but don't have much physical meaning.

      – MattPutnam
      May 31 at 2:59











    • The author clearly is using the terms "more air" and "faster air" to refer to different things. I am wondering the difference in the volume of air that is expended may be a side effect of the embouchure needed to get the lips vibrating at the desired rate, or if there is some aspect of a low note that requires more air.

      – Phil Freihofner
      May 31 at 6:16
















    Thanks! I am taking "faster" air to mean air being squeezed to a higher pressure level. Air inside our body waiting to go through a mouth piece is mostly standing still. Quibble on my part. Interesting about the volume of air being so different. I wonder why?

    – Phil Freihofner
    May 30 at 23:57





    Thanks! I am taking "faster" air to mean air being squeezed to a higher pressure level. Air inside our body waiting to go through a mouth piece is mostly standing still. Quibble on my part. Interesting about the volume of air being so different. I wonder why?

    – Phil Freihofner
    May 30 at 23:57













    Since the bore size is unchanging, "more air" and "faster air" are synonymous. Those terms are useful in pedagogy but don't have much physical meaning.

    – MattPutnam
    May 31 at 2:59





    Since the bore size is unchanging, "more air" and "faster air" are synonymous. Those terms are useful in pedagogy but don't have much physical meaning.

    – MattPutnam
    May 31 at 2:59













    The author clearly is using the terms "more air" and "faster air" to refer to different things. I am wondering the difference in the volume of air that is expended may be a side effect of the embouchure needed to get the lips vibrating at the desired rate, or if there is some aspect of a low note that requires more air.

    – Phil Freihofner
    May 31 at 6:16





    The author clearly is using the terms "more air" and "faster air" to refer to different things. I am wondering the difference in the volume of air that is expended may be a side effect of the embouchure needed to get the lips vibrating at the desired rate, or if there is some aspect of a low note that requires more air.

    – Phil Freihofner
    May 31 at 6:16











    3














    Physics tells us that higher pitches have more energy. So if we apply the same amount of energy--bow pressure and speed for strings, air for winds--then low notes will naturally be louder.



    However, this is pure physics. It's not a huge effect, and the technique involved in playing the actual instrument completely overshadows it. It's most visible on piano, harp, and pitched percussion instruments, since exactly the same technique is used to play across the whole range of the instrument.



    With wind instruments, and especially brass instruments, the need to use more air to support higher notes generally means that it's easier to play high notes louder. Players work to be able to play any note at any dynamic, but there's always a point above which you can only play notes loudly.




    On a violin or cello, say, if you use the identical bowing for a low-pitched note vs a high-pitched note, will one note tend to sound louder than the other or will they both be the same volume?




    The low note will be louder. But there's so much that goes into bowing that I doubt experienced string players think about it at all.




    Are string players taught to, say, dig in a little more to make a low-pitched or high-pitched note project relative to the other?




    I don't think this is something that has to be explicitly taught. It's just something that will be accounted for in the listening/playing feedback loop. If anything, I suspect that you think about it the other way--not letting low notes "honk" compared to higher notes.




    On a clarinet or saxophone, if the exact same embouchure and breath pressure is used on a low-pitched note and a high-pitched note, will they sound at the same volume? (Also, will the upper note tend to be a bit flat or sharp?)




    The embouchure has to change a bit to support the pitch. If you try to play a high note with the embouchure for a low note, it will come out flat, and may squeak. So when you do a leap from a low note to a high note, you make a bunch of small adjustments, and one of those is applying a bit more air to support, and that negates the physics effect.






    share|improve this answer























    • For what it is worth, I've posted a question about the relationship between frequency and amplitude in the Physics area. There is some fussing about frequency and amplitude being independent parameters, and thus a lack of any correlation. But the math does support a relationship between the attributes if the KE (kinetic energy) or I (intensity) is held constant, which is close to what I believe occurs in how this question is framed. It's not intuitively clearcut when you consider how a low frequency (supposedly with less power) can travel farther, and through walls and rattle objects.

      – Phil Freihofner
      May 31 at 6:58











    • What about elaborating the point about piano and harp, in some way? For example: Piano might have somewhat less flexibility for the player in key action (compared to plucking a harp string directly), but it compensates by having a different number of strings per key. Lowest notes have only one string each, higher notes have more, consistently with your answer. But I'm no specialist on piano construction and I don't know whether this was your implied point.

      – Jirka Hanika
      May 31 at 14:23











    • I also don't know much about piano construction. But I don't think number of strings has anything to do with this. More strings just means that the energy from the hammer is divided amongst the strings, the total energy stays the same. I suspect that the reason for having different numbers of strings is that 3 sounds better, but it gets muddy for low notes.

      – MattPutnam
      Jun 1 at 0:09















    3














    Physics tells us that higher pitches have more energy. So if we apply the same amount of energy--bow pressure and speed for strings, air for winds--then low notes will naturally be louder.



    However, this is pure physics. It's not a huge effect, and the technique involved in playing the actual instrument completely overshadows it. It's most visible on piano, harp, and pitched percussion instruments, since exactly the same technique is used to play across the whole range of the instrument.



    With wind instruments, and especially brass instruments, the need to use more air to support higher notes generally means that it's easier to play high notes louder. Players work to be able to play any note at any dynamic, but there's always a point above which you can only play notes loudly.




    On a violin or cello, say, if you use the identical bowing for a low-pitched note vs a high-pitched note, will one note tend to sound louder than the other or will they both be the same volume?




    The low note will be louder. But there's so much that goes into bowing that I doubt experienced string players think about it at all.




    Are string players taught to, say, dig in a little more to make a low-pitched or high-pitched note project relative to the other?




    I don't think this is something that has to be explicitly taught. It's just something that will be accounted for in the listening/playing feedback loop. If anything, I suspect that you think about it the other way--not letting low notes "honk" compared to higher notes.




    On a clarinet or saxophone, if the exact same embouchure and breath pressure is used on a low-pitched note and a high-pitched note, will they sound at the same volume? (Also, will the upper note tend to be a bit flat or sharp?)




    The embouchure has to change a bit to support the pitch. If you try to play a high note with the embouchure for a low note, it will come out flat, and may squeak. So when you do a leap from a low note to a high note, you make a bunch of small adjustments, and one of those is applying a bit more air to support, and that negates the physics effect.






    share|improve this answer























    • For what it is worth, I've posted a question about the relationship between frequency and amplitude in the Physics area. There is some fussing about frequency and amplitude being independent parameters, and thus a lack of any correlation. But the math does support a relationship between the attributes if the KE (kinetic energy) or I (intensity) is held constant, which is close to what I believe occurs in how this question is framed. It's not intuitively clearcut when you consider how a low frequency (supposedly with less power) can travel farther, and through walls and rattle objects.

      – Phil Freihofner
      May 31 at 6:58











    • What about elaborating the point about piano and harp, in some way? For example: Piano might have somewhat less flexibility for the player in key action (compared to plucking a harp string directly), but it compensates by having a different number of strings per key. Lowest notes have only one string each, higher notes have more, consistently with your answer. But I'm no specialist on piano construction and I don't know whether this was your implied point.

      – Jirka Hanika
      May 31 at 14:23











    • I also don't know much about piano construction. But I don't think number of strings has anything to do with this. More strings just means that the energy from the hammer is divided amongst the strings, the total energy stays the same. I suspect that the reason for having different numbers of strings is that 3 sounds better, but it gets muddy for low notes.

      – MattPutnam
      Jun 1 at 0:09













    3












    3








    3







    Physics tells us that higher pitches have more energy. So if we apply the same amount of energy--bow pressure and speed for strings, air for winds--then low notes will naturally be louder.



    However, this is pure physics. It's not a huge effect, and the technique involved in playing the actual instrument completely overshadows it. It's most visible on piano, harp, and pitched percussion instruments, since exactly the same technique is used to play across the whole range of the instrument.



    With wind instruments, and especially brass instruments, the need to use more air to support higher notes generally means that it's easier to play high notes louder. Players work to be able to play any note at any dynamic, but there's always a point above which you can only play notes loudly.




    On a violin or cello, say, if you use the identical bowing for a low-pitched note vs a high-pitched note, will one note tend to sound louder than the other or will they both be the same volume?




    The low note will be louder. But there's so much that goes into bowing that I doubt experienced string players think about it at all.




    Are string players taught to, say, dig in a little more to make a low-pitched or high-pitched note project relative to the other?




    I don't think this is something that has to be explicitly taught. It's just something that will be accounted for in the listening/playing feedback loop. If anything, I suspect that you think about it the other way--not letting low notes "honk" compared to higher notes.




    On a clarinet or saxophone, if the exact same embouchure and breath pressure is used on a low-pitched note and a high-pitched note, will they sound at the same volume? (Also, will the upper note tend to be a bit flat or sharp?)




    The embouchure has to change a bit to support the pitch. If you try to play a high note with the embouchure for a low note, it will come out flat, and may squeak. So when you do a leap from a low note to a high note, you make a bunch of small adjustments, and one of those is applying a bit more air to support, and that negates the physics effect.






    share|improve this answer













    Physics tells us that higher pitches have more energy. So if we apply the same amount of energy--bow pressure and speed for strings, air for winds--then low notes will naturally be louder.



    However, this is pure physics. It's not a huge effect, and the technique involved in playing the actual instrument completely overshadows it. It's most visible on piano, harp, and pitched percussion instruments, since exactly the same technique is used to play across the whole range of the instrument.



    With wind instruments, and especially brass instruments, the need to use more air to support higher notes generally means that it's easier to play high notes louder. Players work to be able to play any note at any dynamic, but there's always a point above which you can only play notes loudly.




    On a violin or cello, say, if you use the identical bowing for a low-pitched note vs a high-pitched note, will one note tend to sound louder than the other or will they both be the same volume?




    The low note will be louder. But there's so much that goes into bowing that I doubt experienced string players think about it at all.




    Are string players taught to, say, dig in a little more to make a low-pitched or high-pitched note project relative to the other?




    I don't think this is something that has to be explicitly taught. It's just something that will be accounted for in the listening/playing feedback loop. If anything, I suspect that you think about it the other way--not letting low notes "honk" compared to higher notes.




    On a clarinet or saxophone, if the exact same embouchure and breath pressure is used on a low-pitched note and a high-pitched note, will they sound at the same volume? (Also, will the upper note tend to be a bit flat or sharp?)




    The embouchure has to change a bit to support the pitch. If you try to play a high note with the embouchure for a low note, it will come out flat, and may squeak. So when you do a leap from a low note to a high note, you make a bunch of small adjustments, and one of those is applying a bit more air to support, and that negates the physics effect.







    share|improve this answer












    share|improve this answer



    share|improve this answer










    answered May 31 at 4:06









    MattPutnamMattPutnam

    15.2k23556




    15.2k23556












    • For what it is worth, I've posted a question about the relationship between frequency and amplitude in the Physics area. There is some fussing about frequency and amplitude being independent parameters, and thus a lack of any correlation. But the math does support a relationship between the attributes if the KE (kinetic energy) or I (intensity) is held constant, which is close to what I believe occurs in how this question is framed. It's not intuitively clearcut when you consider how a low frequency (supposedly with less power) can travel farther, and through walls and rattle objects.

      – Phil Freihofner
      May 31 at 6:58











    • What about elaborating the point about piano and harp, in some way? For example: Piano might have somewhat less flexibility for the player in key action (compared to plucking a harp string directly), but it compensates by having a different number of strings per key. Lowest notes have only one string each, higher notes have more, consistently with your answer. But I'm no specialist on piano construction and I don't know whether this was your implied point.

      – Jirka Hanika
      May 31 at 14:23











    • I also don't know much about piano construction. But I don't think number of strings has anything to do with this. More strings just means that the energy from the hammer is divided amongst the strings, the total energy stays the same. I suspect that the reason for having different numbers of strings is that 3 sounds better, but it gets muddy for low notes.

      – MattPutnam
      Jun 1 at 0:09

















    • For what it is worth, I've posted a question about the relationship between frequency and amplitude in the Physics area. There is some fussing about frequency and amplitude being independent parameters, and thus a lack of any correlation. But the math does support a relationship between the attributes if the KE (kinetic energy) or I (intensity) is held constant, which is close to what I believe occurs in how this question is framed. It's not intuitively clearcut when you consider how a low frequency (supposedly with less power) can travel farther, and through walls and rattle objects.

      – Phil Freihofner
      May 31 at 6:58











    • What about elaborating the point about piano and harp, in some way? For example: Piano might have somewhat less flexibility for the player in key action (compared to plucking a harp string directly), but it compensates by having a different number of strings per key. Lowest notes have only one string each, higher notes have more, consistently with your answer. But I'm no specialist on piano construction and I don't know whether this was your implied point.

      – Jirka Hanika
      May 31 at 14:23











    • I also don't know much about piano construction. But I don't think number of strings has anything to do with this. More strings just means that the energy from the hammer is divided amongst the strings, the total energy stays the same. I suspect that the reason for having different numbers of strings is that 3 sounds better, but it gets muddy for low notes.

      – MattPutnam
      Jun 1 at 0:09
















    For what it is worth, I've posted a question about the relationship between frequency and amplitude in the Physics area. There is some fussing about frequency and amplitude being independent parameters, and thus a lack of any correlation. But the math does support a relationship between the attributes if the KE (kinetic energy) or I (intensity) is held constant, which is close to what I believe occurs in how this question is framed. It's not intuitively clearcut when you consider how a low frequency (supposedly with less power) can travel farther, and through walls and rattle objects.

    – Phil Freihofner
    May 31 at 6:58





    For what it is worth, I've posted a question about the relationship between frequency and amplitude in the Physics area. There is some fussing about frequency and amplitude being independent parameters, and thus a lack of any correlation. But the math does support a relationship between the attributes if the KE (kinetic energy) or I (intensity) is held constant, which is close to what I believe occurs in how this question is framed. It's not intuitively clearcut when you consider how a low frequency (supposedly with less power) can travel farther, and through walls and rattle objects.

    – Phil Freihofner
    May 31 at 6:58













    What about elaborating the point about piano and harp, in some way? For example: Piano might have somewhat less flexibility for the player in key action (compared to plucking a harp string directly), but it compensates by having a different number of strings per key. Lowest notes have only one string each, higher notes have more, consistently with your answer. But I'm no specialist on piano construction and I don't know whether this was your implied point.

    – Jirka Hanika
    May 31 at 14:23





    What about elaborating the point about piano and harp, in some way? For example: Piano might have somewhat less flexibility for the player in key action (compared to plucking a harp string directly), but it compensates by having a different number of strings per key. Lowest notes have only one string each, higher notes have more, consistently with your answer. But I'm no specialist on piano construction and I don't know whether this was your implied point.

    – Jirka Hanika
    May 31 at 14:23













    I also don't know much about piano construction. But I don't think number of strings has anything to do with this. More strings just means that the energy from the hammer is divided amongst the strings, the total energy stays the same. I suspect that the reason for having different numbers of strings is that 3 sounds better, but it gets muddy for low notes.

    – MattPutnam
    Jun 1 at 0:09





    I also don't know much about piano construction. But I don't think number of strings has anything to do with this. More strings just means that the energy from the hammer is divided amongst the strings, the total energy stays the same. I suspect that the reason for having different numbers of strings is that 3 sounds better, but it gets muddy for low notes.

    – MattPutnam
    Jun 1 at 0:09











    1














    Been playing saxophone for 10+ years



    The lower notes natrually get louder, and the higher notes tend to get quieter. For lower notes we relax the jaw a bit. Higher notes I'll just be mindful of the tendency and play out a bit more.






    share|improve this answer








    New contributor



    Adam Peters is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
    Check out our Code of Conduct.























      1














      Been playing saxophone for 10+ years



      The lower notes natrually get louder, and the higher notes tend to get quieter. For lower notes we relax the jaw a bit. Higher notes I'll just be mindful of the tendency and play out a bit more.






      share|improve this answer








      New contributor



      Adam Peters is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
      Check out our Code of Conduct.





















        1












        1








        1







        Been playing saxophone for 10+ years



        The lower notes natrually get louder, and the higher notes tend to get quieter. For lower notes we relax the jaw a bit. Higher notes I'll just be mindful of the tendency and play out a bit more.






        share|improve this answer








        New contributor



        Adam Peters is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
        Check out our Code of Conduct.









        Been playing saxophone for 10+ years



        The lower notes natrually get louder, and the higher notes tend to get quieter. For lower notes we relax the jaw a bit. Higher notes I'll just be mindful of the tendency and play out a bit more.







        share|improve this answer








        New contributor



        Adam Peters is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
        Check out our Code of Conduct.








        share|improve this answer



        share|improve this answer






        New contributor



        Adam Peters is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
        Check out our Code of Conduct.








        answered May 31 at 2:58









        Adam PetersAdam Peters

        315




        315




        New contributor



        Adam Peters is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
        Check out our Code of Conduct.




        New contributor




        Adam Peters is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
        Check out our Code of Conduct.























            0














            As a former clarinet/sax player and current cellist, I have dealt with these issues most of my life. The other answers cover wind instruments pretty well.



            For string instruments, There are two basic ways to get louder: either press harder (so the string is extended farther before skipping loose from the bow hairs) or play faster (more grab/skip per second hence more energy transfer). But that's just the start.



            WIthin limits, it's easier to generate lound tones by bowing closer to the bridge and soft tones by bowing near the fingerboard. If you look at the absolute amplitude of the vibrating string as a function of position, it's easy to see why.



            Now, for various ugly physics and materials science reasons, the pitch produced varies with pressure and with overall amplitude. We have to make tiny fingering adjustments to stay in tune as the dynamic level changes -- this becomes automatic as our skill progresses.



            And it should be pretty obvious that, due to the large difference in string weight and thickness, which lead to different elastic response, that each string has to be bowed at different speeds and pressures to optimize the output tone and timbre.






            share|improve this answer























            • Good explanation of how to change volume and tone. If wanting to play at the same volume for a note low on the fingerboard and high on the fingerboard (same string), do you use the same bowing or make adjustments?

              – Phil Freihofner
              Jun 2 at 4:11











            • @PhilFreihofner In general, we move the bow towards the bridge as the fingering moves up the fingerboard. This more or less maintains the relative position of the bow compared to the fingered string length.

              – Carl Witthoft
              2 days ago















            0














            As a former clarinet/sax player and current cellist, I have dealt with these issues most of my life. The other answers cover wind instruments pretty well.



            For string instruments, There are two basic ways to get louder: either press harder (so the string is extended farther before skipping loose from the bow hairs) or play faster (more grab/skip per second hence more energy transfer). But that's just the start.



            WIthin limits, it's easier to generate lound tones by bowing closer to the bridge and soft tones by bowing near the fingerboard. If you look at the absolute amplitude of the vibrating string as a function of position, it's easy to see why.



            Now, for various ugly physics and materials science reasons, the pitch produced varies with pressure and with overall amplitude. We have to make tiny fingering adjustments to stay in tune as the dynamic level changes -- this becomes automatic as our skill progresses.



            And it should be pretty obvious that, due to the large difference in string weight and thickness, which lead to different elastic response, that each string has to be bowed at different speeds and pressures to optimize the output tone and timbre.






            share|improve this answer























            • Good explanation of how to change volume and tone. If wanting to play at the same volume for a note low on the fingerboard and high on the fingerboard (same string), do you use the same bowing or make adjustments?

              – Phil Freihofner
              Jun 2 at 4:11











            • @PhilFreihofner In general, we move the bow towards the bridge as the fingering moves up the fingerboard. This more or less maintains the relative position of the bow compared to the fingered string length.

              – Carl Witthoft
              2 days ago













            0












            0








            0







            As a former clarinet/sax player and current cellist, I have dealt with these issues most of my life. The other answers cover wind instruments pretty well.



            For string instruments, There are two basic ways to get louder: either press harder (so the string is extended farther before skipping loose from the bow hairs) or play faster (more grab/skip per second hence more energy transfer). But that's just the start.



            WIthin limits, it's easier to generate lound tones by bowing closer to the bridge and soft tones by bowing near the fingerboard. If you look at the absolute amplitude of the vibrating string as a function of position, it's easy to see why.



            Now, for various ugly physics and materials science reasons, the pitch produced varies with pressure and with overall amplitude. We have to make tiny fingering adjustments to stay in tune as the dynamic level changes -- this becomes automatic as our skill progresses.



            And it should be pretty obvious that, due to the large difference in string weight and thickness, which lead to different elastic response, that each string has to be bowed at different speeds and pressures to optimize the output tone and timbre.






            share|improve this answer













            As a former clarinet/sax player and current cellist, I have dealt with these issues most of my life. The other answers cover wind instruments pretty well.



            For string instruments, There are two basic ways to get louder: either press harder (so the string is extended farther before skipping loose from the bow hairs) or play faster (more grab/skip per second hence more energy transfer). But that's just the start.



            WIthin limits, it's easier to generate lound tones by bowing closer to the bridge and soft tones by bowing near the fingerboard. If you look at the absolute amplitude of the vibrating string as a function of position, it's easy to see why.



            Now, for various ugly physics and materials science reasons, the pitch produced varies with pressure and with overall amplitude. We have to make tiny fingering adjustments to stay in tune as the dynamic level changes -- this becomes automatic as our skill progresses.



            And it should be pretty obvious that, due to the large difference in string weight and thickness, which lead to different elastic response, that each string has to be bowed at different speeds and pressures to optimize the output tone and timbre.







            share|improve this answer












            share|improve this answer



            share|improve this answer










            answered May 31 at 14:14









            Carl WitthoftCarl Witthoft

            9,78321531




            9,78321531












            • Good explanation of how to change volume and tone. If wanting to play at the same volume for a note low on the fingerboard and high on the fingerboard (same string), do you use the same bowing or make adjustments?

              – Phil Freihofner
              Jun 2 at 4:11











            • @PhilFreihofner In general, we move the bow towards the bridge as the fingering moves up the fingerboard. This more or less maintains the relative position of the bow compared to the fingered string length.

              – Carl Witthoft
              2 days ago

















            • Good explanation of how to change volume and tone. If wanting to play at the same volume for a note low on the fingerboard and high on the fingerboard (same string), do you use the same bowing or make adjustments?

              – Phil Freihofner
              Jun 2 at 4:11











            • @PhilFreihofner In general, we move the bow towards the bridge as the fingering moves up the fingerboard. This more or less maintains the relative position of the bow compared to the fingered string length.

              – Carl Witthoft
              2 days ago
















            Good explanation of how to change volume and tone. If wanting to play at the same volume for a note low on the fingerboard and high on the fingerboard (same string), do you use the same bowing or make adjustments?

            – Phil Freihofner
            Jun 2 at 4:11





            Good explanation of how to change volume and tone. If wanting to play at the same volume for a note low on the fingerboard and high on the fingerboard (same string), do you use the same bowing or make adjustments?

            – Phil Freihofner
            Jun 2 at 4:11













            @PhilFreihofner In general, we move the bow towards the bridge as the fingering moves up the fingerboard. This more or less maintains the relative position of the bow compared to the fingered string length.

            – Carl Witthoft
            2 days ago





            @PhilFreihofner In general, we move the bow towards the bridge as the fingering moves up the fingerboard. This more or less maintains the relative position of the bow compared to the fingered string length.

            – Carl Witthoft
            2 days ago





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