Flankingäänet

Flankingäänet, often translated as flanking sounds or parasitic tones, refers to unintended and often undesirable sounds that can occur in musical instruments and vocalizations. These sounds arise from complex acoustic interactions within the instrument or vocal tract and are not part of the intended melodic or harmonic content.

In wind instruments, flankingäänet can manifest as extra pitches or off-key notes that emerge alongside the desired note. This can be due to air leakage, improper embouchure, or resonances within the instrument's body. For example, a clarinet might produce a higher, "flank" tone when a specific fingering combination is used incorrectly. Brass instruments can also exhibit flankingäänet due to valve or slide issues, or inconsistencies in the player's lip tension.

For string instruments, flankingäänet are less common but can occur due to sympathetic vibrations of unintended strings or resonances within the instrument's construction that are excited by the primary note. The precise cause is often related to the physics of string vibration and the harmonic series.

In vocal production, flankingäänet can be heard as unintentional overtones or spectral impurities that detract from the clarity and purity of the sung note. These can be caused by poor vocal technique, tension in the throat, or unusual resonance patterns in the vocal tract.

The presence of flankingäänet is generally considered a technical flaw by musicians and instrument makers. Efforts to eliminate or minimize these sounds involve careful instrument design, precise manufacturing, and refined playing or singing techniques. Understanding the acoustic principles behind flankingäänet is crucial for addressing and rectifying these unwanted sonic artifacts.