Flute PhysicsNormal modes of a columnIs the flute -an open column -a closed column or -one end open and other end closed?Experiments on the open pipeSlide 5PitchBlowingThumb holeDynamicsAdjusting pitchMaterial of FluteWood vs metal flutesThe modern flute (Boehm)Recorders and tapered barrelDesign of MouthpieceSlide 16Edge correctionEdge correctionCalculating pitchSpectraWooden flutesPan Pipes1Flute Physics2Normal modes of a columnNo motions, large pressure variationsNo pressure variation, large motions3Is the flute -an open column -a closed column or -one end open and other end closed?How can we find out?4Experiments on the open pipe•Blocking the end•Half blocking the end•How are high notes made easier to play?•Harmonics of Flute Frequency f is speed of sound c divided by wavelength λ•Fingering and pitch change. Effectively shortening the pipe.•Comparing the flute and the recorder lengths/ f c l=5Oscillating Air Stream6PitchWhat changes the pitch? -Speed? -Distance from mouth to edge?-Covering of hole?7Blowing•Breathy sound: How do you get rid of it?•High notes vs low notes: What does the flutist do to change octave?•Vibrato: How does it change the sound? (dynamics, timber, pitch) How does the flutist do it?8Thumb holeFavors the higher overtones allowing the flutist to play an octave higher without over-blowing. However the thumb hole is not in the correct place for every note in the octave. fingering changes from octave to octave9Dynamics•As the vibration becomes larger, more harmonics appear. Loudness in most instruments is accompanied by a change in strength of harmonics or timber.•The flute does not have a big dynamic range. Why?•How do flutists compensate?10Adjusting pitch•The distance between the mouth and edge is fixed for a recorder. When you blow harder the note is sharper.•Flutists can compensate by turning the flute.•Some recorder players compensate with different fingerings for louder notes!•If you add vibrato exact pitch is less precise (add vibrato to allow louder notes to still be effectively in pitch)– vocalists do this too11Material of Flute•Does it matter? Wood vs metal. Silver vs. steel. •How about with recorders?•What part of the instrument mostly affects the tone?Timbre, temperature and humidity.Experiments with HeadsRecord wooden flutes vs metal flutes12Wood vs metal fluteswood flute – metal flute –13The modern flute (Boehm)•Larger holes and covering system•Key rings and coupling of keys•Cylindrical body and tapered head How do these characteristics improve or change the sounds of the flute? F# experiment, low high notes flute+recorder14Recorders and tapered barrelTaper improves higher octave tuning at the expense of some tonality and loudnessExperiment: octaves with penny whistles and recorder15Design of Mouthpiecedepth of mouthpiece determines pitch range1617Edge correction•Width of the barrel does make a difference.Experiment: diameter barrel•End of flute does change the pitch (see Chinese flute).Dizi18Edge correctionEffective length of pipe is L+ΔΔ~0.61a where a is the diameter of the pipeFor a flanged pipe Δ~0.85a19Calculating pitchIn practice it is difficult to calculate the pitches played by a flute as a function of positions and size of holes20SpectraExperiments: •Spectrum of flute•Spectrum of Chinese flute•Spectrum of wood flute•Spectra of thin vs thick wood flutes21Wooden flutes Differences:•Diameter•Holes, size, placement•Types of mouthpieces•Material/type of woodAdditional compromises Requiring fingers to cover holesNo additional mouthpieceMaterialRestriction to one register22Pan PipesSolomon Islands – Pan pipes – from musical instruments of the worldBreathy sound caused by shape of
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