Question

If the guitar and the flute be tuned in the unison then the produced sound can be distinguished by
(A) Pitch, Timber and quality
(B) Only pitch and timber
(C) Only Timber
(D) Only Quality

Answer 1

Hint Understand how 2 different sounds can be differentiated manually. Along with that understand what is pitch, timber, and quality. Apply the same for the given instruments and hence justify your answer by using the terms mentioned.

Complete Step By Step Solution
A guitar and a flute is tuned in unison. Now, in a unison, notes are represented in the same pitch or in 2 different pitches separated by an octave.
Let us first understand what pitch is. Pitch in musical terms, is the characteristic quantity of sound depending upon the frequency of vibration of sound waves. A deep toned sound and a shrieking sound of the same intensity can be differentiated by the frequency of the sound waves produced. It is essential to understand the frequency alone doesn’t influence the pitch, rather loudness also. Loudness can be said, when the extra force is given to the instrument to produce loud sound. In case of flute, more volume of air, in guitar, greater string tension.
Sound quality or also called a timbre is defined as the characteristic of sound that allows the human ear to distinguish sounds of the same pitch and loudness. Timbre in layman’s terms, is the differentiation of tone of the sound wave produced. Timbre is generally determined using the harmonic content of the sound and other factors such as vibration and disturbance.
Quality and timbre are the same, hence sound from guitar and flute can be distinguished using timber and pitch.

Thus Option(b) is the correct answer for the given question.

Note
The harmonic content of a sound is said to be the overtones of the sound waves produced by additional frequencies produced due to complex vibration patterns. Harmonic sounds have different wavelengths and frequency and are never said to be constant in nature.