musical tones

Musical tones are sounds with a specific pitch, duration, and quality created by vibrating objects like vibrating strings or air columns. The pitch, or how high or low a tone sounds, depends on the frequency of vibration: faster vibrations produce higher pitches, slower vibrations lower ones. Each tone also has a distinctive timbre, which is what makes a piano sound different from a violin, even if they play the same note. Tones are organized in scales and harmonies to create melodies and music, shaping our emotional and auditory experiences.