For an interesting and unusual sonic diversion, click on the following links to experience the sound of Shepard tones. A Shepard tone, named after Roger Shepard, is a composite sound that seems to ascend or descend indefinitely, but at the same time seems to never really ascend or descend beyond a certain point. This is accomplished by superimposing tones that are separated by octaves. As a tone ascends or descends the scale, it fades out in intensity while the tone(s) sounding an octave above or below gradually increase in intensity. A Shepard tone, therefore, consists of multiple individual tones sounding octaves apart.
The first two links demonstrate Shepard Tones in which the pitch level smoothly descends or rises in frequency (as in a glissando):
The third example uses discreet pitches ascending the musical scale. It is easier to perceive the entrances of new scales and the fading in and out of scales in the third example:
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Copyright © 2014 by André Duvall
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Briefly explore the countryside of Shepard tones, shepherded by musical educator and performer André Duvall. Listen, too! Thanks for the tour, André!
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