Why do some musical tones sound louder than others?

[Anjaw]

Hello!

I have noticed (while singing in the bathroom) that some musical tones sound louder than others. Example: (if we play a musical tone-note C (261,63 Hz) and then with the same intensity A (440Hz), the sound that comes out does not have the same intensity.)

I was searching for an answer, but unfortunately I didn't find it yet and that is why I am asking you if anyone knows what is the reason for it and whether it is related to aliquot tones and resonance?

I apologize if the question is too easy, but I'm not in that field of study (I'm studying jazz- singing and composing )

Thank you and have a good day!

Anja

[Strange]

Interesting question. I'm not aware of any fundamental reason why this should be the case.

 

It could be that your bathroom has stronger resonances at some frequencies (e.g. C) than at others (A).

It could be your ears are more sensitive to some notes than others.

It could be that your voices is stronger at some frequencies than others.

Or ...

 

(In other words, I don't know!)

[Anjaw]

Interesting question. I'm not aware of any fundamental reason why this should be the case.

 

It could be that your bathroom has stronger resonances at some frequencies (e.g. C) than at others (A).

It could be your ears are more sensitive to some notes than others.

It could be that your voices is stronger at some frequencies than others.

Or ...

 

(In other words, I don't know!)

Thank you for your answer! I have alsouse another musical instruments + my computer for measurement and my brother was also there to listen and the results were the same. I also think it is because of resonances at some freqencies.

[studiot]

All of Strange's comments are possibilities, to these I would add

 

Think about a cheap transistor radio v a hi fi system.

 

It is a well known acoustic phenomenon that a cheap low power radio can sound as loud as an expensive hi fi simply because the ear is particularly sensitive to distortion.

The radio sound is much more distorted than the hi fi and sounds louder, even though the power is lower.

[Anjaw]

All of Strange's comments are possibilities, to these I would add

 

Think about a cheap transistor radio v a hi fi system.

 

It is a well known acoustic phenomenon that a cheap low power radio can sound as loud as an expensive hi fi simply because the ear is particularly sensitive to distortion.

The radio sound is much more distorted than the hi fi and sounds louder, even though the power is lower.

So if I understood, because of this acustic phenomenon a cheap low power radio can sound louder, even though the power is low... but that means that everything coming from the radio sounds louder not just a particular musical tones?

[Sensei]

Measuring sound intensity using just your ears is not scientific way of doing things.

Do you have microphone and laptop (or better two)?
Put them together to bathroom.
Use Windows voice recorder on 1st laptop. Record to WAV file (typical sample).
Replay sound on 2nd.
Load to sample editing software.
And there you can compare.
Louder sound has larger amplitude on graph.

You have to realize that even closed, or open door, will have meaning. Sound is bouncing from the walls and obstacles present on its route.

Sample editing software is typically coming with ADSR generator of samples, so you can generate sample to play on it with different parameters and frequencies.

Scientists are performing experiment with sound in Anechoic chamber
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anechoic_chamber

Edited February 8, 2015 by Sensei

[Anjaw]

Measuring sound intensity using just your ears is not scientific way of doing things.

 

Do you have microphone and laptop (or better two)?

Put them together to bathroom.

Use Windows voice recorder on 1st laptop. Record to WAV file (typical sample).

Replay sound on 2nd.

Load to sample editing software.

And there you can compare.

Louder sound has larger amplitude on graph.

 

You have to realize that even closed, or open door, will have meaning. Sound is bouncing from the walls and obstacles present on its route.

 

Sample editing software is typically coming with ADSR generator of samples, so you can generate sample to play on it with different parameters and frequencies.

 

Scientists are performing experiment with sound in Anechoic chamber

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anechoic_chamber

 

I have already recorded it with H4n 4-track Recorder and with mike + pc, but I didn't compare it yet. I just wanted to see if this is all just because of my "ears", but it seems that 'they hear it too'. Thank you for the advice, I will do it.

[Enthalpy]

Clearly a resonance. I noticed some in bathrooms I used.

If a note is stronger but the neighbour half-tones (F + - 5.9%) are already less strong, then it's not a consequence of your perception. Typical selectivity of a room resonance.

 

Bathrooms show it more easily when their walls are smooth, hard, parallel and uncovered. Other rooms use to have more complicated shapes and absorbing materials like fabrics. Also, big rooms have their resonances more closely spaced so we don't notice them so easily.

[overtone]

It is difficult to design a room that does not damp or resonate some frequencies of sound more than others. Or any reverberating structure - any musical instrument, say.