Understanding Harmonics and Overtones in Closed and Open Pipe Organ Designs

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SUMMARY

The discussion clarifies the discrepancies between harmonic frequencies in closed and open pipe organ designs. For a closed pipe, the correct wavelengths for the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd harmonics are indeed represented as 4L, 4L/3, and 4L/5, respectively, where L is the length of the pipe. However, it is essential to note that closed pipes only produce odd harmonics, while open pipes can produce both odd and even harmonics. The lecturer's reference to overtones rather than harmonics is a critical distinction in understanding these concepts.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of wave mechanics
  • Familiarity with harmonic series
  • Knowledge of organ pipe acoustics
  • Basic principles of sound frequency and wavelength
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the harmonic series in closed and open pipes
  • Study the differences between harmonics and overtones
  • Explore the mathematical relationships in wave mechanics
  • Learn about the acoustic properties of musical instruments
USEFUL FOR

Musicians, acousticians, music educators, and anyone interested in the physics of sound and musical instrument design will benefit from this discussion.

SeanGillespie
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This isn't actually a homework/coursework question, but rather a need to clarify a discepancy between my lecturer's notes and a textbook.

My lecturer's notes state that for an "organ" pipe, closed at one end, the 1st harmonic frequency will be 4L. For the 2nd harmonic the frequency will be 4L/3. And for the 3rd harmonic the frequency will be 4L/5. (Where L is the length of the organ pipe)

However, in my textbook it denotes these same frequencies as the 1st, 3rd and 5th harmonic, rather than 1st, 2nd and 3rd. Which is the correct formula? My lecturer's or my textbook's? (see attached image from textbook)

--- Sorry, correction: I meant wavelength in all above cases, not frequency. ---
 

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Hello sean.With the closed end pipe you get odd harmonics only but with the open ended pipe you get odd and even harmonics.I suspect your lecturer was referring to overtones rather than harmonics.
 
Last edited:

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