Frequency

Frequency (f) has an influence on all aspects of acoustics. A clear tone has a single related frequency. All musical instruments however, produce complex sounds made by different frequencies, while the lowest of these normally determines the pitch, the name of the perceived frequency.

Frequency is referred to in Hertz (Hz). The ear can register frequencies between
20 Hz and 20,000 Hz, but the top limit decreases with age. The ear can also grasp the frequency logarithmically; but no new logarithmic measuring system is used.

The fundamental musical interval is the octave, which is the equivalent of a doubling of the frequency. Acoustic measuring methods are also traditionally based on the octave intervals with the centre frequency at 125, 250, 500, 1000 Hz etc.