This is actually question my daughter posed and I’m pretty stumped. She asked how, if two people with (let’s say) perfect pitch sing a song, how is it possible that we can still tell who is singing when the notes would be identical?
Note: I know absolutely nothing about music, but figured this was the best place to ask for her.
Edit: Wow, many of these answers are incredible! I had no idea this would receive such in depth and thoughtful feedback. I have learned a huge amount. I was not exaggerating above when I said I know nothing about music (I don’t even know what pitch is – just quoted my daughter on that) and I’m grateful to those of you who took the time to help me learn.
In: Biology
Timbre is the key thing here along with the overarching concept of tone. It’s also why any two different instruments (a violin and a saxophone, for example) can play the same note at the same pitch and be easily distinguishable.
The architectural and performance variables of the instrument play an intrinsic part in the “sound”. A saxophone — being made of metal, having a reed, and requiring air flow and key fingering — will undoubtedly create different tones than a violin — being made of wood, having strings, and requiring vibration via bow and manual input on the finger board.
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