Question

What are some terms for describing Timbre? This is one of the 7 elemements of music that really confuses me...

Answer 1

The most used terms used to name "timbre" is "tone quality" or "tone color".
Timbre, is the sound that produces each instrument or voice on the same note, wich is the frecuency it makes the air molecules vibrate.
For example, a F sharp on the piano does not sound like an F sharp on the Oboe.
That's because they are made out of different materiales and they make sound in a different way.

Answer 2

I understand that, but my music history teacher is making us do a project about a band we like and we have to explain each of the 7 elements of music. For timbre he wants us to describe it in terms of quality i guess

Answer 3

Yes, I don't want to mess up your proyect, but I think you should analyze the frecuencies of instruments that have similar melody played.
Then compare the frecuencies of at least two, and you can prove that even though they play the same note, they make the air vibrate in very different ways.

Answer 4

That isn't what he taught us though...
5. Timbre: The quality of sound or voice
a. Characteristics that help us distinguish sounds
i. Clear, distorted/foggy, bright, dark

This is what he taught us, and how he wants us to do it...

Answer 5

that's what I meant with "analyze".
Take any melody, play it with two different instruments and then explain why they sound different tough they play the same melody (characteristics that help us distinguish sounds)
adn describe those sounds.
Is it a clear sound?, maybe foggy?, distorted? bright or dark?
That would be optimal to make a good analysis on Timbre.