Actually, it is trite, but I haven't seen it in graphic form yet:
When visualizing wave propagation from a sound source, most commonly the nodes (high molecule density in the air) are rendered by concentric circles, but in addition to the necessary transfer of a three- (or really four-) dimensional reality into two-dimensional description, most commonly you'll find a simplification where only the nodal circles of the fundamental (partial no. 1) is given.
But in practice a tone rarely consists of just one frequency, so in order to approach a description which is more in line with actual conditions, we must include the harmonics. This requires reflection on how to indicate the different musical functions.
Please do not put too much emphasis in the chosen colour code:
Yellow: Fundamental (1) and its octaves (2, 4)
Magenta: Perfect fifth (3) and its octave (6)
Cyan: Major third (5)
Normally, the picture will be more complex than this, but it could actually be a simplified sound profile of a flute. The sound profile is shown at the bottom left.
/Skye
Wave Propagation
by Skye Løfvander
Apr 8, 2014
Actually, it is trite, but I haven't seen it in graphic form yet: When visualizing wave propagation from a sound source, most commonly the nodes (high molecule density in the air) are rendered by concentric circles, but in addition to the necessary transfer of a three- (or really four-) dimensional reality into two-dimensional description, most commonly you'll find a simplification where only the nodal circles of the fundamental (partial no. 1) is given. But in practice a tone rarely consists of just one frequency, so in order to approach a description which is more in line with actual conditions, we must include the harmonics. This requires reflection on how to indicate the different musical functions. Please do not put too much emphasis in the chosen colour code: Yellow: Fundamental (1) and its octaves (2, 4) Magenta: Perfect fifth (3) and its octave (6) Cyan: Major third (5) Normally, the picture will be more complex than this, but it could actually be a simplified sound profile of a flute. The sound profile is shown at the bottom left. /Skye