if every single sound is a different type or vibration, then how can a single speaker produce songs with multiple instruments and multiple melodies?

Question

if every single sound is a different type or vibration, then how can a single speaker produce songs with multiple instruments and multiple melodies?

In: Physics

Answer 1

Interesting question.

Sounds can be layered together, which combines them into a new type of vibration.

So when playing a song, the speaker is still emitting a single sound wave, albeit a complex one.

Most of the time, combining sounds creates an unpleasant sound called *dissonance*. But part of the job of making music is layering sounds in a pleasing way. For example, the instruments are designed not to overlap, and everyone plays in the same “key” and to the same rhythm, all of which creates a pleasant new sound wave.