What is the Difference Between Pitch and Tone?

The difference between pitch and tone lies in their definitions and characteristics:

• Pitch: Pitch is the frequency of a sound, determined by the number of vibrations per second the sound produces. It is the auditory attribute of a sound, and people often perceive the same frequency in different ways. In musical terms, pitch is described by assigning it to a musical scale, such as A, B, C, and so on. Pitch is also related to the vocal cords' vibration speed, with higher-pitched voices having faster vibrations and lower-pitched voices having slower vibrations.
• Tone: Tone refers to the quality or timbre of a sound. It is sometimes informally used as a synonym for timbre, but more often, tone is synonymous with "note". Tone can also be used to describe the relative percussiveness or resonance of a note. The intensity and combination of frequencies in a sound determine its tone.

In summary, pitch is related to the frequency of a sound, while tone is about the quality or timbre of a sound. Although they are related, pitch and tone have distinct characteristics that set them apart.

Comparative Table: Pitch vs Tone

The difference between pitch and tone can be summarized in the following table:

In summary, pitch refers to the frequency of a sound and determines its highness or lowness, while tone encompasses the quality, strength, and pitch of a sound, and is used to distinguish between different speakers or instruments.