The air column determines the pitchĪ sound wave can travel down the tube, reflect at one end and comeīack. That controls air flow: an air jet for the flute family and cane The column is shortened by opening up holes successively, Note is played with all the tone holes closed, when the column Woodwind instruments have a long, thin column of air.
The viewer, and the cor anglais crook would bend away.) Positioned as shown, the bassoon crook would normally protrude towards Have been rotated 90° to show their shape. Metal tubes joining reed to body) on the bassoon and cor anglais Oboe, the contrabassoon and several saxophones: sopranino, soprano,Īlto, tenor, baritone, bass and contrabass. Soprano, alto and bass clarinet the musette, oboe d'amore and bass Lower) and bass flute (one octave lower). The picture is not complete: to the fluteĬould be added piccolo (one octave higher), alto flute (a fourth (165 Hz) on the cor anglais, Bb3 (233 Hz) on the oboe, B3 or C4 Hz) or D3 on the A or Bb clarinet, C#3 on the alto saxophone, E3 Of range: the lowest notes are Bb1 (58 Hz) on the bassoon, C#3 (139 From left to right are bassoon, clarinet, alto saxophone,Ĭor anglais, oboe and flute. On the piecture for an enlarged version.) A metre rule at left gives Some of the woodwinds are shown in the picture at right. Hard as tuba players in order to be heard. That is why piccolo players don't have to work as Sensitive to sounds between 1 and 4 kHz - about two to four octavesĪbove middle C. The reed opens and closes 29 times per second. When this note is played loudly, you mayīe able to hear the individual pulses of high pressure emitted as Sounds from about 15 Hz to 20 kHz (1 kHz = 1000 Hz). Treble clef, a vibration of 220 Hz is heard as the A one octaveīelow, 110 Hz as the A one octave below that and so on. The pitch of a note is almost entirely determinedīy the frequency: high frequency for high pitch and low for low.Ĥ40 vibrations per second (440 Hz) is heard as the note A in the Ultimately this sound wave causes a very tiny vibration in yourĪt any point in the air near the source of sound, the moleculesĪre moving backwards and forwards, and the air pressure varies upĪnd down by very small amounts. The disturbance in the air spreads out as a travelling sound wave. Of this air flows outwards, compressing the next layer of air. It compresses the air next to it, which raises its pressure. Gently on a loudspeaker you will feel it vibrate - if it is playingĪ low note loudly you can see it moving.