Why do 100 instruments in a band playing the same note always sound louder?

Question

I've been told that a property of waves is that when two waves of the same frequency meet, they can either interfere constructively or destructively, depending on how much they are in phase with each other. However, in band, it doesn't matter how far apart they are, or where you, the listener are, if 10 trumpets play together at the same note, then they will always sound louder. It seems logically that if each instrument was creating individual alternating high and low pressure zones, then entropy would never allow those to all lign up perfectly, and eventually all those vibrations, if you had enough instruments, would just interfere so much that you were left with just regular air. But this never happens, the instruments always sound louder.

Answer 1

Sound is one of those fickle things. If you could track in on a set frequency I'm sure you would fine that the maximum amplitude of the 10 trumpets is equal to the sum of the amplitudes of the individual trumpets. However, that isn't how your ear works, certain bands (mainly mid range) are much more audible then others. In addtion, your brain filters out quieter noise and focuses on louder noise (especially if its in one of the mid range bands). You can override this by listening for a specific thing consciously, but if you were just sitting listening to a band, you would tend to focus on the main melody (which is usually played by trumpet rather then a trombone or tuba which amplitude wise are much louder).

The waves do interfere constructively and destructively, but you have to think on the order of hte wave length and the speed its moving as well as the arrangement you are sitting. The differences in phase of the wave will cancel out because chances are the instruments aren't tuned perfectly, so the music will have 'beats' to it - it will seem to get louder and quieter, if you ever tuned an instrument this is what you listen for to determine how in tune you are. No matter how well they are tuned, they will gradually detune as the instrument warms and cools, as well as the changes in ombesure of the musician. This will eliminate the perfectly in phase or out of phase argument.

Answer 2

i am in band, and i do play trumpet. i do not, however, have an in-depth knowledge of wave properties. I'll still try to answer though.

In band, when you want two instruments to sound exactly the same, there is more two it than having the same pitch. They have to have the same tone. Even if the two instruments are perfectly in tune, they still make a louder sound than just one playing. It is like having a trumpet and a flute play together...you can always tell that there are two different instruments because the tone is so much different. while this difference isn't so great between 2...or 10 trumpets, the little differences in tone is what makes each wave of sound individual, thus creating the louder sound.

hope i helped

Answer 3

Entropy is fine. But overriding all that is air pressure. It is a matter of scale. The airpressure is much greater than any loss attributed by entropy. Which is louder, one radio in a room playing music, or 100 radios in a room, each playing a different channel? The effect you speak is the basic principal involved in white noise sound reduction systems, very precise, taking into account the accoustics of the room and such. If you don't get all the variables just right, then the "entropy" effect as you would call it is lost.

Answer 4

The volumes are not exactly the same between all the instruments and each one has a different harmonic content. That means the spectrum coming out is not equal for all the horns or instruments. Each instrument resonates differently and each player blows into the horn differently. If each intrument put out a pure sine wave of the same volume , you'd notice some effect.

Answer 5

Actually, the notes played are never exactly the same. The sound is in desonance. If they were perfectly at the exact same pitch, it would sound awful. Pianos are tuned 'out of tune' on purpose - just slightly. In fact, electronic keyboards had to be programed to be a little out of tune to sound realistic. With a computer, the notes could be exact - and when tuned exactly, it sounded like you would expect a computer generated sound to sound like -
A trumpet is played at so many decibels, if there are 10 trumpets, there is 10 times more decibels.

Answer 6

It is the same note, same pitch, same tone, same wave length. There is no interference. It does matter where the listener is positioned however as the sound waves travel away from there source. Also, if you are sitting at the back of the band the sound is very diminished.

Answer 7

each tool needs time and dedication to assessment. It purely takes prepare. I taught my little sister the thank you to play the flute, which I performed for 4 years, and he or she picked it up fairly rapid. i actually do no longer comprehend something related to the sax or clarinet nonetheless...

Answer 8

because one note being played by many is more direct and your mind sort of registers it better with less confusion. many notes, each note isnt being played by as many people and your brain has more to register

Answer 9

Ya no, i really have no idea. No real answer to this ?