u/ImportantBoot8945

This is something I’ve never thought about with guitar on all of the years I’ve played, but have been thinking about it a ton having started singing lessons 9 months ago.

If I play a note on guitar, the exact same note can sound very different from one guitar to the next or if (on electric) adjust the tone knob/EQ/different amp. Likewise, two people can sing the exact same note and it can sound very different.

So, what’s changing? Notes have a pitch that is a specific frequency, right? For example, A4 is 440hz. But if two guitars are both playing A4 or two singers are both singing A4, what is changing in the sound wave for them to sound different but still the same note?

So, I’m helping to setup the sound for a school talent show. There are two things I’m thinking about:

1. I’m wondering about potential problems (feedback or otherwise) with running to PA’s in the same room (school gymnasium). This has come about as I’ve been preparing to use the school’s PA system (a new Yamaha Stagepas), and I’ve dialed it all in for a performance I’ll be doing. However, the other organizer has also planned to use her own PA (Fender Passport). If this will cause issues, I could try to dial my stuff into that PA. We could also turn it off, as my act is last.

2. So, I’ve dialed in everything in an empty gymnasium. Tomorrow, it’ll be filled in with 200+ people. How much do bodies affect perceived volume? I imagine it‘d affect the tone of instruments and vocals and would cut back on room reverb. What about volume? Do I need to plan on adjusting volume up or down to compensate for bodies on the room.