The four properties of sound

A description on the four properties of sound.

1. The four properties of sound
 The four properties of sound are
 Pitch
 Intensity (loudness)
 Duration
 Timbre
 Compositions are made complicated and interesting using these 4
properties.
 Pitch
 Pitch is the highness or the lowness of sound.
 When frequency increases pitch increases.
 When frequency decreases pitch decreases.
 Therefore when variations in frequency is changed the pitch
changes.
 The greater the number of sound waves produced per second of
an elastic body, the higher the sound we hear, the fewer sound
waves per second, the lower the sound.
 Tone
 A tone is a musical sound of definite pitch.
 Intensity (also called amplitude)
 Intensity is the loudness or softness of a pitch.
 This depends on the energy put to press a key of the piano.
 Some intensities are given below.

2. 2
 Italian
word
 Symbol  Translation  Average
decibels
 Pianissimo  pp  Very soft  40

 Piano
 Mezzo
piano
 P
 mp
 Soft
 Moderately
soft
 50
 60



 Duration
 Duration is the length of time a pitch or a tone is sounded.
 Patterns of duration include.
 Metter
 Rhythm
 Timbre
 Timbre is the tone quality or colour of sound.
 This changes from instrument to instrument.