Why do instruments sound different?
Show answer & explanation
Answer: Unique overtone patterns
Different air temperatures — Wrong. Temperature affects pitch slightly but doesn't explain why a piano sounds different from a violin playing the same note.
Unique overtone patterns ✓ — Correct! Each instrument produces a unique mix of overtones (harmonics) along with the main note. A violin and piano playing the same note have different overtone patterns—that's their timbre or 'color' of sound!
Our ears hear selectively — Wrong. Our ears hear all instruments similarly. The difference is in the actual sound waves each instrument produces.