Question

To generate a pitch an octave higher on a violin, one must:

a. Press the string harder.
b. Shorten the vibrating length of the string.
c. Loosen the bow.
d. Use a thicker string.

Answer 1

To produce a higher pitch, such as an octave higher on a violin, the length of the vibrating string should be shortened. To lower the pitch on a drum, the drum skin should be loosened. The correct option is b.

Step-by-step explanation:

To generate a pitch an octave higher on a violin, one must shorten the vibrating length of the string. This is done by pressing down on the string at a particular point to effectively reduce its length, which increases the frequency of the vibration and thus raises the pitch.

This principle is based on the physics of sound and the relationship between the frequency of vibration and the wavelength. On the other hand, for a drum to produce a note of lower pitch, one must loosen the drum skin, which lowers the tension and decreases the frequency of vibration. The correct option is b.