Final answer:
An eighth note pair in 4/4 time results in two sounds within a single beat, with each note occupying half of the beat's duration. This knowledge is also used by piano tuners when tuning strings to eliminate beat frequency and achieve harmonic sound.
Step-by-step explanation:
The student has asked whether an eighth note pair contains 2 sounds in one beat. In 4/4 time, also known as common time, each beat is represented by a quarter note. An eighth note pair, therefore, would have each note taking up half a beat, resulting in two sounds in a single beat. This is often seen in sheet music where two eighth notes are connected by a beam. When played or heard, it generates a rhythm where the eighth notes are equally spaced within the duration of the beat, giving the impression of faster pacing compared to a single quarter note beat.
Making career connections, piano tuners and musicians must understand these rhythmic subdivisions. Piano tuners utilize beats, listening for the slight variations when two strings are slightly out of tune with each other and adjusting until the beat frequency is minimized, creating a harmonious sound. This same principle applies to tuning other stringed instruments such as twelve-string guitars and mandolins.