How are musical tones produced?

Question

I need to do a project on this and i'm having a headache!

Answer 1

Lynndram is exactly right. Here are a couple of sites that give some more info and links:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sound

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Musical_instrument

Good luck on your project.
Musician,composer,teacher.

Answer 2

It's basic physics. When sound is made, it means that a medium (most often air for us humans) is pushed into bunches, which then expands and pushes other air molecules into bunches, which then expand,etc. These are called compression and rarefaction waves, and this is how sound is propagated, or travels. You need three components to create a sound: a motor, an oscillator, and a
resonator. In the case of a violin, the motor is the bow, the oscillator the string, the resonator the body of the violin.
In the case of a wind instrument, say, an oboe, the motor is the breath of the player, the oscillator the reed, the resonator the body of the oboe.
This is basic physics and can be found in any school textbook. For a more advanced look into acoustics, refer to the preeminent author on the subject, Hermann von Helmholz ( b. 1894) who was the first to devise theories and rules.