Physics-based playability maps for single-reed woodwind instruments.

Abstract

Musical instrument playability can be analyzed by visualizing a subspace defined by musicians' control parameters. This is common for bowed-string instruments in the form of Schelleng diagrams. Such diagrams can be populated either through experimental measurements or physical modeling. It was recently suggested to use similar diagrams for analyzing wind instrument playability. This study explores this direction using a physical model, previously validated against experimental measurements. It is shown that reed beating needs to be taken into account before playability analysis. This could help arrive at specific reed and mouthpiece designs according to the musicians' desires.