My purpose in writing this blog is to comment on, explain, and explore concepts in music that are either of general importance or are simply fascinating to me. I hope at least a few of you will join me for the ride, but especially those of you who are high school/college music students. I really believe you can get a lot out of what I intend to say here.
Let's begin with this exchange I had with "A" the other night. This is what inspired me to take up the task of music blogging again, when I realized how much fun it was for me to explain things like this:
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(Exposition: talking to fellow music students, asking about acoustics; she didn't know what acoustics was so I eventually got to the basics of that, which in tun led me RIGHT HERE:)
What is an octave?
A: The same pitched note higher our Lee than the first note. Hard to word. XD
D: So, you could say for example that it's the distance from one A to the adjacent A?
A: Yes there are so many ways to explain!
D:
Well,
Congratulations!
You've just properly answered the question "What is an Octave?"
On an elementary school level. :P
If that comprehension of the octave is really all you need for what you do as a musician,
I won't waste any more of your time.
But if you're curious at all
would you like me to explain my understand of the octave?
A: Yes pls
D:
For starters, did you ever learn what frequency and wavelength are in science class?
Or more simply, what sound waves are?
A: Sorry that took a while. Uhm, I kinda learned about them. I was always interested but not as interested as I should have been. I didn't realize it was a musical sound thing. XD
D:
Do you know the frequency of Concert A?
That all orchestras are tuned to?
A:
Uhhh... A?
D:
That's the Pitch Class.
There is a number people always associate with A in the music world.
It's three digits.
Lemme see if you've truly never heard of it, or if you need your memory jogged.
Is the frequency of A:
a. A 440
b. A 730
c. A 285
A: Oh Lord... A 440?
D:
Yep.
So see, you've heard the term "A 440."
Somewhere in the past.
But did you have any idea that 440 is a measurement of frequency?
A:
I don't think I have. I just remember talking about that in class today, and I've heard it a while ago too. I knew it was a frequency, yes. But I just remember hearing an orchestra tune, I also remember it was A from that piano anime I watched because they said it in that, and it was in the same range and color as middle C and I thought that was 440, so. That's what my guess is based on. XD
D:
but the fact is, your guess was right.
You know more than you think you do.
About the stuff you've learned in the past.
But.
There is stuff you don't know about music. A lot of stuff.
I have only one point left to make, getting to the original point of the conversation.
The Octave.
Musical notes are made of frequencies. 440 is a number referring to the value in Hertz of that specific frequency of A.
What the 440 means
is that the frequency (which we'll currently say is a /sine wave/)
oscillates,
or fluctuates, bends, etc, whatever you wanna call it
440 times per second.
The higher the frequency, the higher the pitch your ear perceives.
And the lower, well, the opposite is true.
A:
Yeah. I hear sound create spirals at different frequencies so I guess I understand that!
D:
...hold that thought, I have a question about it.
For later.
So,
What is an Octave?
A:
Ok. XD
D:
An octave is two notes.
The distance from A to A, for example.
But the question is,
A:
So, A 440 an octave up is A 220! Yes?
D:
if I have A 440 and I play the A above it to make an octave
hm, you're getting ahead of me
Let me pose you this question to clarify.
A:
I had Brent rose for theory this morning~
D:
The higher the frequency, the higher the perceived pitch.
(G-D I LOVE BRENT)
If higher frequency means higher pitch,
if I have A 440 and I play the A above it to make an octave
hm, you're getting ahead of me
Let me pose you this question to clarify.
A:
I had Brent rose for theory this morning~
D:
The higher the frequency, the higher the perceived pitch.
(G-D I LOVE BRENT)
If higher frequency means higher pitch,
A:
(I F---ING DO TOO)
D:
What is the A above A 440?
A:
220... yes? O:
NO. 880
D:
YAY!
You got it
And then, 220 is...?
A:
I MEAN I DUNNO OK AUGH UHHH
A?
D:
220 IS an octave of A.
And if 880 is the octave above 440
then...
A:
Cause the number is higher, 880. O:
D:
well yes,
A:
That's what I thought you meant. XD
D:
but if 220, 440, and 880 are all octaves of the pitch class A.
What then is the identity property of the interval of the octave?
What is the simplest way to define an octave?
A:
The postage between two notes of the same pitch class. O:
D:
Second Grade.
220 IS an octave of A.
And if 880 is the octave above 440
then...
A:
Cause the number is higher, 880. O:
D:
well yes,
A:
That's what I thought you meant. XD
D:
but if 220, 440, and 880 are all octaves of the pitch class A.
What then is the identity property of the interval of the octave?
What is the simplest way to define an octave?
A:
The postage between two notes of the same pitch class. O:
D:
Second Grade.
A:
Uh. Stupid Swype
D:
Give me the college answer.
A:
Distance* Ugh, I dunnooooo
D:
Well what do those three frequencies have in common?
220, 440, 880
A:
I'm not a mathy.
D:
Me neither.
A:
THEY'RE ALL FREQUENCIES
HAHAHAH
D:
But this is a puzzle, not a math question.
A:
DO I WIN?
NO? Ok...
D:
I will give you a clue.
A:
Uhm... you add the number to itself to get the next number?
D:
The relationship between 220 and 440 is the same as the relationship between 440 and 880.
What is that relationships?
In one word.
A:
Brain= fried
Uh. Stupid Swype
D:
Give me the college answer.
A:
Distance* Ugh, I dunnooooo
D:
Well what do those three frequencies have in common?
220, 440, 880
A:
I'm not a mathy.
D:
Me neither.
A:
THEY'RE ALL FREQUENCIES
HAHAHAH
D:
But this is a puzzle, not a math question.
A:
DO I WIN?
NO? Ok...
D:
I will give you a clue.
A:
Uhm... you add the number to itself to get the next number?
D:
The relationship between 220 and 440 is the same as the relationship between 440 and 880.
What is that relationships?
In one word.
A:
Brain= fried
D:
Aw.
You did your best.
220 x 2 = 440
440 x 2 = 880
Which you /kind of/ said
but I didn't wanna give it to you just then.
Aw.
You did your best.
220 x 2 = 440
440 x 2 = 880
Which you /kind of/ said
but I didn't wanna give it to you just then.
A:
I was learning today, gotta cut me some slackkjkk
D:
Oh, I understand. It's heavy stuff.
So that's the answer
What is an Octave?
2.
An octave is 2.
A:
Well, thank you for the answer!
LOL YES! EASY!
D:
2 meaning the ratio between two frequencies being exactly 2.
A:
I'M JUST STUPID
D:
But you're not, thooooough
You figured out a lot of this on your own!
I was learning today, gotta cut me some slackkjkk
D:
Oh, I understand. It's heavy stuff.
So that's the answer
What is an Octave?
2.
An octave is 2.
A:
Well, thank you for the answer!
LOL YES! EASY!
D:
2 meaning the ratio between two frequencies being exactly 2.
A:
I'M JUST STUPID
D:
But you're not, thooooough
You figured out a lot of this on your own!
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Now, not a single one of my other posts is gonna be anything like this. This was more to get our feet wet and break the ice. :)
I pose it to you, music students, music teachers, and all who strive to make sonic art: what should I write about in my first real article? Leave me some suggestions and I'll pick my favorite one.
For the record, this will be my approach in explaining things:
1. The Theory Perspective
2. The Auditory Perspective
3. My Personal Perspective
I'm looking forward to it! :D
-David G.
