"Fundamentals of Musical Acoustics: Second, Revised Edition" by Arthur H. Benade Review

This book was an excellent read that covers every aspect of sound vibration, and the physics that explains how it travels through different materials. Arthur first identifies that the music we hear is made up of combinations of frequencies, each of which has a fundamental and an overtone series. Depending on the material you are hitting and how you hit it may change the way it sounds. You can pluck it, hammer it, or strike it. This changes the initial response in the wave of the frequency you’re hearing. Using clamps and hinges, he explains that this can change the nodes where those vibrations travel. He explains how instruments, such as the piano are tuned to achieve different temperaments. The best part of the book is where Arthur explains in detail how each instrument from the orchestral family (strings, brass, organ, percussion, and keyboards) makes it’s unique sound.

Overall, I loved how the book described everything I needed to know and more about sound vibrations. I always wanted to learn how the different sections and clamps make an acoustic guitar sound different. I could see the concepts in this book being applied to different projects in the studio like soundproofing, or to figuring out how to tune or detune a piano. When I’m producing on my DAW and creating a new instrument patch, I have to consider how it’s being played, how it vibrates, and the material it’s made of.