Harmonic Analysis of Mallet Percussion

Harmonic Analysis of Mallet Percussion

By Max CandociaGoalsBasic understanding of sound waves and mallet percussionUnderstand harmonic analysisUnderstand difference in sounds of different mallets and striking location

Emphasize harmonics2MarimbaPhoto courtesy of vichitex.comVibraphonePhoto courtesy of woodbrass.com

Recording: Vermont Counterpoint, Nathaniel BartlettRecording: La Fille Aux Cheveux de Lin, Ozone Percussion Ensemble

XylophonePhoto courtesy of onlinerock.com

Recording: Fantasy on Japanese Wood Prints

Sine:Sawtooth:Sound WavesVibrating medium (ie. Air, water, ground)LongitudinalHarmonicsSinusoidal Components

Images courtesy of Wikipedia

Qualities of HarmonicsFrequencyCycles per second (Hertz); determines pitch

AmplitudePower of wave; determines loudness

PhaseLocation of harmonic relative to other harmonics

Photo courtesy of Wikipedia

Photo courtesy of physics.cornell.edu

Photo courtesy of 3phasepower.orgMight go back a slide to show synthesis of sawtooth wave6Harmonic Analysis

Harmonics of Kelon xylophone struck in center with hard rubber mallet

Sounds are near respective harmonics on graphs; full sound is at top7Vibraphone HarmonicsDry:

Wet:InstrumentMalletLocation# HarmonicsH1 dBH2 dBH3 dBH4 dBH5 dBVibraphoneBlackDry56190.8133VibraphoneBlackWet2161.1VibraphoneRedDry3223.51.5VibraphoneRedWet11VibraphoneWhiteDry4160.590.6VibraphoneWhiteWet2251.5

Sounds are with black mallet on vibes8Xylophone Harmonics

InstrumentMalletLocation# HarmonicsH1 FreqH2 FreqH3 FreqH4 FreqH5 FreqXylophoneHard RubberCenter4886.9175026705100XylophoneHard RubberEdge4886.9176026705150XylophoneHard RubberNode3886.852670.55155XylophoneNatural RubberCenter3886.917502670XylophoneNatural RubberEdge3886.9517602670XylophoneNatural RubberNode5887175921672670.55150XylophonePlasticCenter4886.9175026705100XylophonePlasticEdge4886.95176026705170XylophonePlasticNode3886.852670.55200

On the Node

Marimba Harmonics

InstrumentMalletLocation# HarmonicsH1 FreqH2 FreqH3 FreqH4 FreqMarimbaBlackCenter3221.5665990MarimbaBlackEdge4221.46658852240MarimbaBlackNode3221.5885.52210MarimbaRedCenter2221.6664MarimbaRedEdge3221.4664885.5MarimbaRedNode2221.5885Using a Stick on Marimba

InstrumentMalletLocation# HarmonicsH1 FreqH2 FreqH3 FreqH4 FreqH5 FreqH6 FreqMarimbaStickCenter4222210022102400MarimbaStickEdge3221.58852205MarimbaStickNode6221855.32064221039004460

Use wind in bamboo grove for sound clip?12ConclusionSounds made of harmonicsRelative phase has no apparent pattern in mallet percussionVibraphone very simple sound when wet, more complicated when drySoft mallets on marimba and vibes induce sounds with less harmonicsXylophone has different sounds depending on striking locationHarder mallets on marimba produce trends in harmonics similar to xylophone

Thanks to:Professor Steve ErredeAdam WattsDan Carson3M

Richard Feynman playing conga; photo courtesy of physics.miami.edu