Editing Timbre (section)

{{short description|Quality of a musical note or sound or tone}}
{{Other uses}}
{{Distinguish|Timber}}
{{Use shortened footnotes|date=April 2021}}
[[File:9577 Guitarz1970 Clean E9 Guitar Chord (Mike Tribulas).jpg|thumb|right|[[Spectrogram]] of the first second of an E9 [[suspended chord]] played on a [[Fender Stratocaster]] guitar. Below is the E9 suspended chord audio:{{brk}}
[[File:9577 Guitarz1970 Clean E9 Guitar Chord (Mike Tribulas).ogg]] ]]

In music, '''timbre''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|t|æ|m|b|ər|,_|ˈ|t|ɪ|m|-|,_|ˈ|t|æ̃|-}}), also known as '''tone color''' or '''tone quality''' (from [[psychoacoustics]]), is the perceived sound of a [[musical note]], sound or [[musical tone|tone]]. Timbre distinguishes sounds according to their source, such as choir voices and musical instruments. It also enables listeners to distinguish instruments in the same category (e.g., an [[oboe]] and a [[clarinet]], both [[Woodwind instrument|woodwinds]]).

In simple terms, timbre is what makes a particular musical instrument or human voice have a different sound from another, even when they play or sing the same note. For instance, it is the difference in sound between a guitar and a piano playing the same note at the same volume. Both instruments can sound equally tuned in relation to each other as they play the same note, and while playing at the same amplitude level each instrument will still sound distinctive with its own unique tone color. Musicians distinguish instruments based on their varied timbres, even instruments playing notes at the same [[Pitch (music)|pitch]] and volume.{{cn|date=April 2024}}

The physical characteristics that govern timbre include [[frequency spectrum]] and [[envelope (music)|envelope]]. 

Musicians can change timbre by modifying  their singing/playing techniques. For example, a violinist can use different bowing styles or bow on different parts of the string. E.g., playing [[sul tasto|''sul tasto'']] produces a light, airy timbre, whereas [[sul ponticello|''sul ponticello'']] produces a harsh, even, and aggressive timbre). On electric guitar and electric piano, performers can change timbre using [[effects unit]]s and [[graphic equalizer]]s.