Document Detail


Do trumpet players tune resonances of the vocal tract?
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  22280694     Owner:  NLM     Status:  In-Data-Review    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
The acoustic impedance spectrum was measured in the mouths of seven trumpeters while they played normal notes and while they practiced "bending" the pitch below or above the normal value. The peaks in vocal tract impedance usually had magnitudes rather smaller than those of the bore of the trumpet. Over the range measured, none of the trumpeters showed systematic tuning of the resonances of the vocal tract. However, all players commented that the presence of the impedance head in the mouth prevented them from playing the very highest notes of which they were normally capable. It is therefore possible that these players might use either resonance tuning or perhaps very high impedance magnitudes for some notes beyond the measured range. The observed lack of tuning contrasts with measurements for the saxophone which, like the trumpet, has weak resonances in the third and fourth octaves. Saxophonists are only able to play the highest range by tuning resonances of the vocal tract, so that the series impedance has a very strong peak at a frequency near that of the desired note. This difference is explained by the greater control that the trumpet player has over the natural frequency of the vibrating valve.
Authors:
Jer-Ming Chen; John Smith; Joe Wolfe
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article    
Journal Detail:
Title:  The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America     Volume:  131     ISSN:  1520-8524     ISO Abbreviation:  J. Acoust. Soc. Am.     Publication Date:  2012 Jan 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2012-01-27     Completed Date:  -     Revised Date:  -    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  7503051     Medline TA:  J Acoust Soc Am     Country:  United States    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  722     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
School of Physics, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia.
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