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How do instruments make music?

1/6 Why do different musical instruments sound unique? From saxophones to pianos, Rutherford and Fry investigate the science behind musical sounds.

1/6 "We play many musical instruments in our family. Lots of them produce the same pitch of notes, but the instruments all sound different. Why is this?" asks Natasha Cook aged 11, and her Dad Jeremy from Guelph in Ontario, Canada.

In this new series of The Curious Cases of Rutherford and Fry, Hannah and Adam are joined by the Curious Cases band - Matt Chandler and Wayne Urquhart - to play with today's question.

Bringing the science we have acoustic engineer and saxophone player Trevor Cox. Plus materials expert Zoe Laughlin demonstrates a selection of her unusual musical creations, including a lead bugle, a glass bell and a spruce tuning fork.

Presenters: Adam Rutherford, Hannah Fry
Producer: Michelle Martin

Main image: 1-25 Wind instruments, 26-34 percussion instruments, Egypt, engraving by Duhamel from Description of Egypt, or the collection of observations and researches which were made in Egypt during the expedition of the French Army), Etat moderne, Planches, Volume II, Plate PlCC, Imprimerie Imperiale, 1817, Paris. Credit: De Agostini Editorial / Getty Images

Available now

28 minutes

Last on

Sun 19 May 2019 23:32GMT

Broadcasts

  • Mon 13 May 2019 19:32GMT
  • Tue 14 May 2019 04:32GMT
  • Tue 14 May 2019 05:32GMT
  • Tue 14 May 2019 06:32GMT
  • Tue 14 May 2019 10:32GMT
  • Tue 14 May 2019 13:32GMT
  • Tue 14 May 2019 17:32GMT
  • Sun 19 May 2019 23:32GMT

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The Curious Cases of Rutherford and Fry

The Curious Cases of Rutherford and Fry

A pair of scientific sleuths answer your perplexing questions. Ask them anything!

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