Bottle Band Basics: A Pitch for Sound Science

by: Thomas O'Brien

In this activity, three identical-size glass soft drink bottles with varying amounts of water are used to make sounds of various pitches. Upon initial consideration, the pattern established when using the bottles as wind instruments seems to suggest a different rule than when they are used to produce different pitches as percussion instruments. In fact, the same underlying scientific principles explain the pitch patterns produced in all musical instruments.

Details

Type Book ChapterPub Date 3/1/2011Stock # PB271X2_16

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