Consonance of Complex Tones with Harmonics of Different Intensity ()
ABSTRACT
The starting point of this study is the theory of tonal consonance by
Plomp and Levelt. The major reference point is the theory of Critical Band and
its use for evaluating consonance of simple tones. On the basis of such
empirical criterion, our aim consists in providing a method of estimating the
value of consonance of complex tones, by taking account not only of the number
of harmonics, but also of the intensity of the partials which contribute to
forming the tone. By introducing a specific algorithm, the level of consonance
of a chord of complex tones is expressed in terms both of frequency differences
and sound intensity of the partials. The results give rise to a series of considerations
and applications, ranging from displaying the order of consonance of all
intervals within the octave up to evaluating the hierarchy of chords in the
frame of a musical scale.
Share and Cite:
Bernini, A. and Talamucci, F. (2014) Consonance of Complex Tones with Harmonics of Different Intensity.
Open Journal of Acoustics,
4, 78-89. doi:
10.4236/oja.2014.42008.