Understanding Sound: Frequency, Pitch, and Melody

Posted on Jan 17, 2025 in Music

Frequency and Human Hearing

Frequency is the speed of vibration, measured in hertz (Hz). Humans can hear frequencies up to 20,000 Hz.

• Ultrasounds are sounds with a frequency higher than 20,000 Hz.
• Infrasounds are sounds with a frequency lower than 20 Hz.

Pitch and its Representation

Pitch is the quality of sound that tells us if the pitch is high or low. Pitch is the frequency of vibration of an object, measured in hertz.

Pitch is represented by notes written on a stave.

Melody, Motifs, and Phrases

Melody results from combining notes with musical note symbols.

A melodic motif is a group of notes with a musical meaning of its own. When joined with others, it forms a musical phrase.

A musical phrase is a melody made up of various melodic motifs and has a complete musical meaning.

Musical Texture

Texture is how different melodies are combined in a musical composition.

• Monophonic texture consists of just one melody, such as Gregorian chants.
• Polyphonic texture consists of multiple melodies played simultaneously.