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Pitch

Definition

Pitch refers to the quality of a sound that is determined by its frequency. Higher frequencies are perceived as higher pitches, while lower frequencies are perceived as lower pitches.

Analogy

Imagine a piano keyboard where each key represents a different pitch. When you press a key on the left side of the keyboard, it produces a low pitch, similar to a deep voice. On the right side of the keyboard, pressing keys produces high-pitched sounds, like a soprano's voice.

Related terms

Frequency: The number of complete cycles of a sound wave that occur in one second. Higher frequencies have more cycles and are associated with higher pitches.

Basilar Membrane: A thin strip of tissue within the cochlea that vibrates in response to sound waves. Different parts of the basilar membrane respond to different frequencies, allowing us to perceive pitch.

Place Theory: This theory suggests that different locations along the basilar membrane correspond to different pitches. When specific areas vibrate more intensely due to incoming sound waves at certain frequencies, we perceive those as distinct pitches.