Analysis of Different Materials for Trumpet Mouthpieces

Analysis of Different
Materials for Trumpet
Mouthpieces
Greg Formosa
PHYS 199 - POM

INTRODUCTION
• 3 Mouthpieces tested
– C5 tuning note
– A.k.a. Concert Bb4 - 466.164 Hz
• Blessing 5C Mouthpiece
– Metal (Original, Brass)
– Plastic (Accura SI 40 RP)
– Wood (Oak)

• Densities
Gathered Information
– Metal = brass ~67% copper, 33% zinc
• 8.430-8.730 8.730 g/cm 3
– Plastic = Accura SI 40
• 1.1 g/cm 3
– Wood = Oak
• 0.590 – 0.930 g/cm 3

HYPOTHESIS
• Less dense = more absorption
– Lower amplitude/energy as density decreases
– Less harmonics, more absorbed as density
decreases
– Frequencies similar*
• Metal = “norm”
• Plastic = similar
• Wood = flat
– Phase Differences
• Plastic is similar to Metal
• Wood has greater differences
*Based on audible
differences and
general feel

Physical Differences
• Audible Differences
– Metal = brighter, more harmonics
– Plastic = similar to metal, slightly less power
– Wood = lower harmonics, less bright
• Physical Differences (feel)
– Metal = normal, smooth and easy to play
– Plastic = similar, less heat transfer, harder to play
higher
– Wood = “stickier, stickier,” harder to control with lips, not
smooth

5C Metal – Harmonic Amplitudes
3x
3x
2.5x
2
x
1.25x
.5x

5C Wood – Harmonic Amplitudes
4
1.75x 1.63x
1.25x 1.25x
x
.25x

5C Wood – Harmonic Amplitudes
2x
2. 2x
2x
3
1.6x
x
.167x

Ratio of Harmonics to Fundamentals
3
2
4
WOOD
METAL
PLASTIC
.167
.167
1.58
1.58
2
2.2
2.2
2+
2+
Wood
Wood
.25
.25
1.25
1.25
1.25+
1.25+
1.63
1.63
1.75
1.75
Plastic
Plastic
.5
.5
1.25
1.25
2.5
2.5
3+
3+
3
Metal
Metal
6th
6th
5th
5th
4th
4th
3rd
3rd
2nd
2nd

PHASE DIFFERENCES
• 2 nd harmonic very similar – 125-135 135 degrees
• 4 th and 6 th harmonics of plastic slightly out of
phase
• 3 rd and 5 th harmonics closer in phase for plastic

• Wood Mpc. . Phase:
– Very skewed phases
– Extremely high degree out of phase (25,000)
– No similar aspects to other mpc. . Phases

5C Metal – Normalized Amplitude

5C Plastic – Normalized Amplitude

5C Wood – Normalized Amplitude

Normalized Amplitudes
• Metal and plastic similar, like relative
phases graphs
• Plastic is slightly out of phase compared to
metal, but a little skewed
• Wood 2 nd harmonic is very similar to metal
and plastic
– All others (3, 4, 5, 6) are skewed and bent
towards 0, between -30 and 30 degrees

FREQUENCIES
• Graphs all similar, hard to differentiate
• Inconclusive data
• By ear: (compared to metal)
– Plastic sounded a bit flat
– Wood sounded a bit sharp

CONCLUSIONS
• Harmonics & energies stay generally the same
regardless of material or density
– Plastic’s s 2 nd harmonic is bigger than normal, unaudible difference
though
• As density decreases, the 3 rd -5 th (strong) harmonics
move closer to fundamental, less out of phase
• Also as density decreases, 2 nd harmonic moved more
and more out of phase, away from fundamental
– Unaudible differences in phase, except maybe to trained ears
• Biggest difference is due to texture and rigidity to player
– The difference between mouthpieces to a musical listener is
minute, but to the player is great.