Physics 1251 The Science and Technology of Musical Sound Unit 3 Session 32 MWF The Singing Voice...

Physics 1251Physics 1251The Science and The Science and

Technology of Musical Technology of Musical SoundSound

Physics 1251Physics 1251The Science and The Science and

Technology of Musical Technology of Musical SoundSound

Unit 3Unit 3

Session 32 MWFSession 32 MWF

The Singing VoiceThe Singing Voice

Unit 3Unit 3

Session 32 MWFSession 32 MWF


Physics 1251Physics 1251 Unit 3 Session 32Unit 3 Session 32 The Singing VoiceThe Singing Voice

Foolscap Quiz:Foolscap Quiz:

• What produces the vibrations in the What produces the vibrations in the human voice?human voice?

The The vocal foldsvocal folds produce the produce the vibrations required for phonation of vibrations required for phonation of the human voice.the human voice.


A Little Q&AA Little Q&A



Andrea BocelliAndrea BocelliLuciano Luciano PavarottiPavarotti

What is the What is the difference?difference?


11′ Lecture:′ Lecture:

• The pitch range of the singing voice is The pitch range of the singing voice is determined by the properties of the vocal determined by the properties of the vocal folds.folds.

• The intelligibility of words is due to the The intelligibility of words is due to the relationship of the first two formants.relationship of the first two formants.

• Modification of the shape of the vocal Modification of the shape of the vocal tract significantly affects the timbre of tract significantly affects the timbre of the singing voice.the singing voice.


The Vocal ApparatusThe Vocal Apparatus

The Vocal Tract The Vocal Tract is the organ of is the organ of

speech andspeech and

the instrument the instrument

of the Voice.of the Voice.

1.1. Nasal Nasal cavitycavity

2&3. Pharynx2&3. Pharynx

4. Vocal folds4. Vocal folds

5. Tongue5. Tongue

8. Epiglottis8. Epiglottis

9. False v.c.9. False v.c.

10. Trachea10. Trachea

Physics 1251Physics 1251 Unit 3 Session 32Unit 3 Session 32 The Singing Voice The Singing Voice

The Mechanics of the Vocal FoldsThe Mechanics of the Vocal Folds80/2080/20The properties of the vocal folds The properties of the vocal folds

determine their vibration frequency.determine their vibration frequency.

LarynLarynxx

LarynxLarynx

OpenOpen




LarynxLarynx

ClosedClosed

Vocal Vocal FoldsFolds

ffvocalvocal = 1/2 = 1/2ππ √√k/ mk/ m




Vocal Vocal FoldsFolds

Stress Stress σσ

Density Density ρρ

Length Length LL ffvocalvocal = 1/2 = 1/2ππ

√√k/ mk/ m

ffvocalvocal = 1/2 = 1/2ππ √√k/ mk/ m

k = fold stiffness k = fold stiffness m = effective m = effective massmassFor a cord:For a cord:

f = 1/2Lf = 1/2L√√T/ μ T/ μ T = σ (t T = σ (t‧d) ‧d) μ = ρ(tμ = ρ(t‧d) ‧d) f = f = 1/2L1/2L√ √ σ / ρ σ / ρ



determine their vibration frequency.determine their vibration frequency.ffvocalvocal = 1/2 = 1/2ππ

√√k/ mk/ mk = fold stiffness k = fold stiffness m = effective m = effective massmassFor a cord:For a cord:

f = (1/2L)f = (1/2L)√√T/ μ T/ μ T = σ (t T = σ (t‧d) ‧d) μ = ρ(tμ = ρ(t‧‧d) d) f f = (1/2L)= (1/2L)√ √ σ / ρ σ / ρ

f = f = √ √ σ / (4Lσ / (4L22 ρ)ρ)

k = k = ππ22 σ m/ Lσ m/ L2 2 ρ = πρ = π22 TT/ L / L m = m = ρ L(tρ L(t‧d) ‧d) L L ≈ 0.017 m ≈ 0.017 m ρ ρ ≈ 1040 ≈ 1040 kg/mkg/m3 3 σ σ ≈ 12 ≈ 12 kPa f kPa f ≈ 100 Hz ≈ 100 Hz m ≈ 200 mg; T≈ m ≈ 200 mg; T≈ 0.14 N 0.14 N




ff11 = (1/2L) = (1/2L)√ √ σ σ / ρ / ρ

80/2080/20Conclusions:Conclusions:

• Resting length, stress and density set Resting length, stress and density set voice rangevoice range

• Stress (tension) can be increased Stress (tension) can be increased external to the vocal fold or internal to it. external to the vocal fold or internal to it.

• Overall, increased tension increases Overall, increased tension increases stiffness, pitchstiffness, pitch


Vocal Range – Fundamental PitchVocal Range – Fundamental Pitch

♩♩

♩♩ ♩♩

♩♩

♩♩

♩♩ ♩♩

♩♩

♩♩

♩♩

♩♩

♩♩

Bass Bass EE22 – E – E44

BaritonBaritone Ge G22 – –

GG44

Tenor Tenor CC22 – C – C55

ContralContraltoDtoD33 – –

DD55

Mezzo-Mezzo-SopranSopranoEoE33 – A – A55

SopranSopranoGoG33 – D – D66

♂♂:: ♀♀::

82 Hz82 Hz

329 329 HzHz

98 Hz98 Hz

392 392 HzHz

131 131 HzHz

523 523 HzHz

147 147 HzHz

587 587 HzHz

165 165 HzHz

880 880 HzHz

196 196 HzHz

1175 1175 HzHz


Anatomy of the Human VoiceAnatomy of the Human Voice80/2080/20During adolescent the vocal folds grow During adolescent the vocal folds grow

longer and the voice lowers in pitch.longer and the voice lowers in pitch.Vocal Folds Vocal Folds lengthen at lengthen at

pubertypubertyff11 = = √ √ σ / (4Lσ / (4L22 ρ)ρ)

ff1 1 = 1700/L = 1700/L (mm)(mm)

Pitch lowers Pitch lowers at puberty.at puberty.


Anatomy of the Human VoiceAnatomy of the Human Voice80/2080/20The vocal folds comprise muscle, lamina The vocal folds comprise muscle, lamina

propria and epithelium.propria and epithelium.

EpitheliumEpithelium

Lamina Propria Lamina Propria (3 layers)(3 layers)

ThyroarytenThyroarytenoid Muscleoid Muscle

CoverCoverBodyBody


Video of Video of

LaryngoscopyLaryngoscopy

Tenor, Baritone and SopranoTenor, Baritone and Soprano


80/2080/20Pitch is raised by increasing tension Pitch is raised by increasing tension on vocal folds, both external to the on vocal folds, both external to the vocal fold (Cricothyroid muscle) and vocal fold (Cricothyroid muscle) and internal to it (Thyroarytenoid internal to it (Thyroarytenoid muscle).muscle).

ff11 = (1/2L) = (1/2L)√ √ σ / ρσ / ρ

The nature of the stress in the The nature of the stress in the vocal fold (internal or external vocal fold (internal or external tension) permits phonation in tension) permits phonation in different different registersregisters..


80/2080/20Vocal Registers:Vocal Registers:

ff11 = (1/2L) = (1/2L)√ √ σ / ρσ / ρ

σ =σσ =σexternalexternal + σ + σinternalinternal

TerminologyTerminology

Speaking:Speaking: PulsePulse ModalModalFalsettoFalsetto

Singing:Singing: ChestChest HeadHeadFalsettoFalsetto

(alternative)(alternative) FryFry MiddleMiddleWhistle Whistle StohbassStohbassflageoletflageolet


80/2080/20The shape of the Vocal Tract The shape of the Vocal Tract determines the frequency of the determines the frequency of the Formants.Formants.www.www.exploratoriumexploratorium..eduedu

/exhibits/vocal_vowels/vocal_vowels.html/exhibits/vocal_vowels/vocal_vowels.html

““ah”ah”

““eh”eh”

““oh”oh”

““oo”oo”

http://www.exploratorium.edu/exhibits/vocal_vowels/vocal_vowels.html






Spectrogram of Human SpeechSpectrogram of Human Speech


SpeechSpeech• 80/2080/20The individual units of speech are The individual units of speech are

called called phonemes.phonemes.• The classes of (English) phonemes are:The classes of (English) phonemes are:

• Unvoiced PlosivesUnvoiced Plosives‒ p, t, k (c, q, x) ‒ p, t, k (c, q, x) • Voiced Plosives‒ b, d, gVoiced Plosives‒ b, d, g• Fricatives‒ unvoiced/voiced: f/v, Fricatives‒ unvoiced/voiced: f/v, thth/th, /th, • Sibilants‒ unvoiced/voiced: s(c)/z, sh/zh (j), Sibilants‒ unvoiced/voiced: s(c)/z, sh/zh (j),

h/khh/kh• Liquids‒ l, rLiquids‒ l, r• Nasals‒ m, n, ngNasals‒ m, n, ng• Semi-vowelsSemi-vowels‒ w, y‒ w, y• VowelsVowels‒ a, e, i, o, u‒ a, e, i, o, u


Vowels and FormantsVowels and Formants80/2080/20The relative frequency of the 1 The relative frequency of the 1 st st and 2 and 2 nd nd

vowels formants are unique to various vowels formants are unique to various vowels.vowels.

ii II εεææ

ΛΛ DD

ccuu

ee

UU

First formant First formant frequencyfrequency

Secon

d f

orm

an

t S

econ

d f

orm

an

t fr

eq

uen

cy

f req

uen

cy


Control of FormantsControl of Formants80/2080/20Tongue and lip placement and the shape of Tongue and lip placement and the shape of

the pharanx are most important in vowel the pharanx are most important in vowel formation.formation.

AA

““Corner Corner Vowels”Vowels”

DD

ii uu

ff

AA

ff

AA

ff


Formants and SingingFormants and Singing

•Vowel modification shifts formats. Vowel modification shifts formats. ••Alignment of formants with Alignment of formants with harmonics harmonics intensifies pitch. intensifies pitch. ••Dilation of vocal Dilation of vocal tract causes Singer’s Formant.tract causes Singer’s Formant.

Harmonics Harmonics align with align with FormantsFormants

Singers’ Singers’ FormantFormant


Summary:Summary:• The pitch range of the singing voice is The pitch range of the singing voice is

determined by the size, tension, and determined by the size, tension, and density of the vocal folds.density of the vocal folds.

• Vocal registers and breaks in the voice Vocal registers and breaks in the voice result from changing modes of result from changing modes of oscillation of the vocal folds.oscillation of the vocal folds.

• Vowels are distinguished by the Vowels are distinguished by the frequency relationship of the first two frequency relationship of the first two formants.formants.

• Modification of the vocal tract shape Modification of the vocal tract shape sets the timbre of the singing voice.sets the timbre of the singing voice.

Physics 1251 The Science and Technology of Musical Sound Unit 3 Session 32 MWF The Singing Voice...

Documents

Transcript of Physics 1251 The Science and Technology of Musical Sound Unit 3 Session 32 MWF The Singing Voice...