A monochord is an ancient musical and scientific laboratory instrument. It was used by Pythagoras about 550 BCE. The word "monochord" comes from the Greek and means literally "one string." In the monochord, a single string is stretched over a sound box. The string is fixed at bothes ends; a moveable bridge alters pitch. This topic is considered to be an essential subject on Wikipedia. ...
The monochord can be used to illustrate the mathematical properties of musical pitch. For example, when a monochord's string is open it vibrates at a particular frequency and produces a pitch. When the length of the string is halved, and plucked, it produces a pitch an octave higher, the string vibrates at twice the frequency of the original (2:1). Half of this length will produce a pitch two octaves higher than the original--four times the frequency (4:1)--and so on. Mathematics is often defined as the study of topics such as quantity, structure, space, and change. ... In music, pitch is the perception of the frequency of a note. ... In music, an octave (sometimes abbreviated 8ve or 8va) is the interval between one musical note and another with half or double the frequency. ...
Monopipe is a wind instrument which serves the same purpose as the monochord. Monopipe is a variable open pipe which can produce variable pitches. ...
For example, when a monochord'sstring is open it vibrates at a particular frequency and produces a pitch.
When the length of the string is halved, and plucked, it produces a pitch an octave higher, the string vibrates at twice the frequency of the original (2:1).
Monopipe is a wind instrument which serves the same purpose as the monochord.
The monochord was later used as a teaching tool in the 11th century by Guido of Arezzo (fl.
Finally, the monochord probably provided the inspiration for the creation of the clavichord, which later led to the harpsichord and then the piano-forte.
To many keyboardists, this is seen as the monochord's most important contribution, but when comparing that to the impact it had on the sciences of mathematics and physics, one must concede that its reach has been far greater.