11. Instrument Spectrums!

- This project is intended for those of you who play

musical instruments! In class we have discussed the properties of the different
forms of pipes and how these can be compared to musical instruments. In this
project you will use different types of pipes to determine which fundamental most
resembles the frequency of your instrument. 

Procedure: 
To begin this project, you will need to measure the length of your instrument and
predict what type of pipe that it most resembles. You will also need to measure
the diameter at the base. As a reminder the types of pipes are closed-closed,
open-open, and closed-open. You will then complete the equations to find the
fundamental and the first two overtones. 
Open-Open Pipe:
For the open-open pipe the values are used to determine the antinodes. 
n f =nv/2L (1)
Where n is the number of loops and n=1 for the fundamental frequency. In the
equation v is the speed of sound and L is the length of your instrument. 
L’ = L + DL (2)
In reality there is a small correction that needs to be made for sounds in tubes
because of the effect that the pipe acts longer then it is. This correction only
needs to be made when dealing with an open side of a pipe. Now you might be
asking well how large the DL value is:
DL = .6133r (3)
The r value for this pipe is the radius of the pipe at the open end. Now for an
open-open pipe you will need to double the DL values since there are two open
sides creating the correction: 
DL = 1.27r (4)
To find the two overtones you will multiply the fundamental frequency f by 2 for
1

the first overtone or f and for the second overtone you will multiply the
2

fundamental frequency by 3 for the second overtone or f . 

3

nf =nf (5)
1

Closed-Closed Pipes: 
For the closed pipe you will complete equations 1 and 5 except without the end
correction you used for the open-open pipe. This time the values are nodes. 

Closed-Open Pipes: 
The closed-open pipe is interesting because it will only determine the odd
harmonics. 
f =nv/4L
n

Where n is the number of loops and n=1 for the fundamental frequency. In the
equation v is the speed of sound and L is the length of your instrument. This time
you will only have to complete one end correction so you will use equation 2 and
3 from the open-open pipes. 
f =nfn 1
To find the two overtones you will multiply the fundamental frequency by 3 for the
first overtone or f and for the second overtone you will multiply the fundamental
3

frequency by 5 for the second overtone or f .

5

Now comes the fun part of deciding what type of pipe system your instrument
mimics. For this there are two different ways depending on if you are a Roomer
or a Zoomer. For those of you that are able to come in person you will use the
app called “audacity” on I’s laptop to determine the spectrum of your instrument.
For those of you online you will send I the audio of your recording and she will
send you the audacity spectrum. 

Now I am sure you are wondering, what do I need to do with my instrument to

find the spectrum? You will need to play the lowest note on your instrument for
about 5 seconds. You will also be required to play a couple measures of a music
piece of your choice. It does not have to be a complicated piece it is just helpful
to view patterns on your instrument. You will also be required to play a 2-octave
scale. Again, this can be the scale of your choosing and it does not need to be
complicated. 
 
When this is completed here is an example of what will be viewed on audacity. I
will gladly work with you to determine the frequencies and interpret the spectrum
with you! The first portion is an Eb major scale on a flute and the second was the
piece of my choosing. 

To conclude the project, you will write about whether or not your prediction was
correct and what you learned. The goal of this lab is to determine what type of
pipe your instrument most closely resembles.