Frequentia

frequency

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Frequency is the rate anything vibrates for a set period of time.

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A vibration is one complete period of a sinusoidal waveform.

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Frequency in music is measured per second; 440 refers to 440 vibrations per second.

Sonus

Pitch

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Pitch is the "music note" name we apply to vibrations.

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When something vibrates 440 times per second, it is said to be the note A.

Series Harmonica

harmonic series

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A natural framework of frequency based on mathematical ratios. We will learn more about this in Lesson 6 Intervals.

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The octave is the first  and complete building block of the Harmonic Series.

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The octave marks the repetition of the seven note pattern and thus defines the boundaries of music. All of western music is built upon the octave and it's ratio of 2:1.

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Octavus

the octave

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Music is based on a repeating pattern of seven notes A-B-C-D-E-F-G. The pattern repeats on the eighth note and it is called an Octave; from the Latin word Octavus, which means "8th".

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The octave has a ratio of 2:1, meaning the vibration of any octave is half or double the original note's frequency.

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If the original note is A=440, the octave above vibrates 880 (440x2) times per second, and below 220 (440/2).

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An octave remains in the same pitch class. If you double the frequency of A=440, you get A=880. Both are the note A, but obviously in different octaves which we hear as higher  (faster) or lower (slower) vibrations.

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Notice in the Human Vocal Range chart there are more than one A: A=110, A=220, A=440 and A= 880.

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