Acoustical characterization of flute head joints

Abstract

A method is described for characterizing the acoustical properties of flute head joints by measurement of the quantities Fn = fn/(2n−1), where fn is the frequency of the nth impedance maximum of the head joint as viewed from the end of a short cylindrical tube simulating a part of the flute body and with the embouchure hole completely unobscured. The tube length is chosen to make f1≊170 Hz. It is shown that the pattern of this ’’resonance signature’’ curve Fn in the frequency range fn up to 5 kHz is sensitive to the precise geometry of the head joint so that it may serve as a convenient correlate for playing behavior, even though its shape is only indirectly related to conditions in a blown flute. A simple and inexpensive apparatus for determining this resonance signature is described.