Author: jhoyla
Date: 2008-09-02 12:55
Hi Mike,
I'll probably respond to your points piecemeal, here's the first installment:
<<You say that you don't want any "bad vibrations" that are caused by parts of the reed vibrating at different frequencies. But the fact of the matter is that the reed has to be able to vibrate at a whole range of frequencies if you are going to be able to play more than one note! I always thought the goal was to make a reed that could vibrate at many frequencies. >>
Okay, I didn't explain myself very well, but I disagree with that last sentence! Based on the rest of your email, I'm not sure you meant it in quite the way it sounds :-)
The reed vibrates. The fundamental frequency at which it vibrates is governed almost entirely by the physical properties of the instrument, and not of the reed itself (it is a function of the dimensions of the air column up to the first open hole). It is not the reed that crows at "C". it is the reed-plus-staple that crows at this frequency. Lengthen the staple, you'll get a different note.
If sections of the reed vibrate independently of the fundamental note (which is governed by the standing-wave in the air-column), they generate higher-frequency partials that we identify as harsh overtones (buzzes, chirps and the like). If the structure of the reed encourages the fundamental and discourages these independent vibrations, you get a cleaner, purer note.
More thoughts later,
J.
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