The Emotional Characteristics and Timbre of Nonsustaining Instrument Sounds

Chau CJ, Wu B, Horner A. The Emotional Characteristics and Timbre of Nonsustaining Instrument Sounds. J Audio Eng Soc. 2015;63(4):228-244. doi:10.17743/jaes.2015.0016

@article{Chau2015_17581,
  author = {Chau, Chuck-jee and Wu, Bin and Horner, Andrew},
  title = {{The Emotional Characteristics and Timbre of Nonsustaining Instrument Sounds}},
  journal = {Journal of the Audio Engineering Society},
  volume = {63},
  number = {4},
  pages = {228--244},
  year = {2015},
  month = apr,
  publisher = {Audio Engineering Society},
  doi = {10.17743/jaes.2015.0016},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.17743/jaes.2015.0016}
}

TY  - JOUR
TI  - The Emotional Characteristics and Timbre of Nonsustaining Instrument Sounds
AU  - Chau, Chuck-jee
AU  - Wu, Bin
AU  - Horner, Andrew
T2  - Journal of the Audio Engineering Society
J2  - J. Audio Eng. Soc.
VL  - 63
IS  - 4
SP  - 228
EP  - 244
PY  - 2015
DA  - 2015/04/06
DO  - 10.17743/jaes.2015.0016
UR  - https://doi.org/10.17743/jaes.2015.0016
PB  - Audio Engineering Society
LA  - en
AB  - Although recent research showed the connection between timbre and emotion with sustaining musical instruments, this research investigates the connection for nonsustaining instruments, such as plucked string, pitched percussion, and keyboard sounds. Pairwise listening tests considered eight emotional categories. Results showed that the harpsichord, marimba, vibraphone, and xylophone were highly rated for positive emotional categories; the guitar, harp, and plucked violin were highly rated for negative emotional categories; and the piano was rated emotionally neutral. By correlating timbral features with the listener rankings, we found that decay slope and density of significant harmonics were the relevant timbral features for many emotional characteristics. There were differences in emotional characteristics due to early release.
ER  -