Äänikorkeuteen

Äänikorkeus, often translated as pitch, refers to the perceived highness or lowness of a sound. It is primarily determined by the fundamental frequency of the sound wave, which is the rate at which the vocal cords or other sound-producing source vibrates. Higher frequencies result in higher pitches, while lower frequencies result in lower pitches.

The human ear perceives pitch logarithmically, meaning that equal increments in frequency do not correspond to equal increments in perceived pitch. The range of human hearing for pitch is typically from about 20 Hertz (Hz) to 20,000 Hz, though this range can vary with age and individual factors.

In music, pitch is a fundamental element used to create melodies and harmonies. Musical notes are assigned specific pitches, and these pitches are organized into scales and keys. The difference in pitch between two notes is called an interval.

Beyond frequency, other factors can influence the perception of pitch, including the sound's intensity (loudness) and timbre (tone quality). For example, very loud sounds can sometimes be perceived as having a slightly higher pitch than they actually do. Similarly, the presence of overtones, which are higher frequencies that accompany the fundamental frequency, contributes to the timbre of a sound and can subtly affect its perceived pitch.