Comparison of Periodic Wave Forms Generated by Musical Instruments

via Fast Fourier Transform

Jairus Carlo F. Calpatura, Marc Jerrone R. Castro* and Mignon Frances A. Dumanjog
National Institute of Physics, University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City 1011, Metro Manila
*Corresponding author: marc82598@gmail.com

SYNOPSIS
The main idea of Fourier transform deals with the comparison of signals with generated sinusoids of
various frequencies [5]. It obtains a magnitude value for each frequency considered, whereas, in certain
key magnitudes the similarity of it with sinusoid frequency are closely related [2]. In this study, the
analyzation of different sounds produced by musical instruments will be done using Fourier Transform.
By determining certain pitches and its corresponding frequencies, we aim to produce a waveform and
magnitude Fourier transform of different tones played by different instruments which depicts the
frequency dependence on the magnitude variables.
BACKGROUND
The sound spectrum is a representation of a short sample of sound in terms of the amount of vibration at
each specific frequency which is usually measure in vibrations per second or Hz [1]. Vibrations generated
by musical instruments, causes a periodic variation in air pressure which is heard as sound [2]. The period
T is the length of time before a certain signal repeats, whereas, the primary frequency f1 is equal to the
reciprocal of period is the fundamental frequency or pitch of the note produced. In musical instruments,
with f1 as an exception, frequencies are generated with respect to the fundamental frequency such that
preceding frequencies are integer multiples of f1, whereas frequency f1 is equal to 2fp where f2n are
denoted as harmonics [2]. In Fourier analysis their relations are given by:

ak cos ( 2 kt
T )+ b sin (
k
2 kt
T
)

()

x ( t )=a0 +
n=1

T
1
a0 = x ( t ) dt
T 0

T
2
ak = x (t ) cos ( 2 kt
T 0 T
)dt ; k {1,2,3}

T
2 2 kt
bk = x (t ) sin ( )dt ; k {1,2,3}
T 0 T

Results generated by the study would have a similar representation as the following graphs;
 Figure 1. Sample results of Fourier Transform from related studies [1].

METHODOLOGY
Using instruments at hand (i.e. guitar, piano, drums) different notes will be produced and recorded. Note
that only notes that are within the range of the instruments will be recorded. To ensure the accuracy of the
notes produced, an accurate tuner will be employed. Recorded notes will be altered as possible such that
inherent differences in volume are minimized. This may be done by checking the intensity peaks and
averages of the instruments sound using the aid of the computer software. Fourier analysis will be
applied to selected audio clips using computer software.
REFERENCES
[1] Wolfe, Joe. "What is a Sound Spectrum?" www.phys.unsw.edu.au/~jw/sound.spectrum.html
[2] Bell, Maria. Fourier Analysis in Music - Rhea
[3] Lenssen, N. and Needell, D. "An Introduction to Fourier Analysis with Applications to Music,"Journal
of Humanistic Mathematics, Volume 4 Issue 1 (January 2014), pages 72-91. DOI:
10.5642/jhummath.201401.05. Available at: http://scholarship.claremont.edu/ jhm/vol4/iss1/5
[4] M. Mller. Fundamentals of Music Processing DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-21945-5_2
[5] Alm, J., & Walker, J. (2007). Time-Frequency Analysis of Musical Instruments. Society for Industrial
and Applied Mathematics, 457-476.