Timbre

Timbre is a property of tone that allows us to distinguish two tones of the same pitch emitted by different sound sources. It is determined by the number of high harmonics in the composite tone, the size of amplitude, background noises and rustle.The higher the energy of the higher harmonic frequencies, the sharper the tone sounds, and as the energy decreases, the tones become "rounder" . Odd multiples of the fundamental frequency sharpen the sounds (e.g. in brass wind instruments), even multiples of the fundamental frequency soften the sound (e.g. in woodwind instruments).

Tone

A musical tone is a steady periodic sound, whose graph of the dependence of sound intensity on time is a quasiperiodic function.

It includes the sounds of musical instruments, sung vowels, etc.

Simple tone/Pure tone

It consists of one frequency component that corresponds to its perceived height. Its time course is given by a sinusoid and is created by a simple sinusoidal oscillation.

Complex tone

It is composed of many simple tones and its course is still periodic (but it is not a sinusoid).

Noise

Irregular waves that do not have a certain amplitude or frequency. The graph of the dependence of intensity on time is not a periodic function.

We can also include consonants of human speech.

Sources of voice

The different tone color is due to the different way of sound formation in different resonators.

Voice

Exhaled air from the lungs passes throughvocal cords. When the vocal cords vibrate, they give the voice tonal concepts.  When they do not oscillate they form the noise. The uniqueness of the voice is caused by a different fundamental frequency and its modifications in the supra-laryngeal cavities (resonator). The resonator transmits only some harmonic tones (resonant frequency). 

Tuning fork

Emits a tone of specific frequency. During use, it sounds with a beat, the high harmonic tones (overtones) fade very quickly and the tuning fork starts to emit a sinusoidal tone. The frequency of the tones depends indirectly on the size of the tuning fork.

Strings

A standing wave is created when a string resounds by its oscillation. The string vibrates across the harmonic spectrum. Above the fundamental frequency, there are other harmonic tones (they are quieter and higher). With some instruments (string instruments) we can achieve higher harmonic tones – flageolet.

Wind instruments

The air column is vibrated while using. The amplitude of the frequency depends on the length of the whistle and whether the whistle is open or closed at its end.

Percussion

Hits on the taut membrane of the drum make it vibrate. The sound of the drum is the oscillation of tauted membranes.

References

• REICHL, Jaroslav – VŠETIČKA, Martin. Barva tónu [online]. [cit. 2015-10-28]. <http://fyzika.jreichl.com/main.article/view/195-barva-tonu>.

• Bakalářská fyzika pro HGF VŠB-TUO. Zvuk, akustika [online]. [cit. 2015-10-28]. <http://if.vsb.cz/frvs/bf/32.html>.

• Wikipedia: the free encyclopedia. Barva tónu [online]. [cit. 2015-10-28]. <https://cs.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barva_t%C3%B3nu>.

• Wikipedia: the free encyclopedia. Tón [online]. [cit. 2015-10-28]. <https://cs.wikipedia.org/wiki/T%C3%B3n>.

• Websnadno.cz. Tón a jeho vlastnosti [online]. [cit. 2015-10-28]. <http://www.nauka.websnadno.cz/Ton-a-jeho-vlastnosti.html>.

Sources

• TARÁBEK, Pavol – ČERVINKOVÁ, Petra, et al. Odmaturuj! z fyziky. 2. edition. Brno : Didaktis, 2006. pp. 0. ISBN 8073580586.