Mandolins and Helium

[Jeff_Stallard]

If I submerged a mandolin in a helium cloud, would the pitch be higher the same way your voice gets higher after inhaling helium?

I don't fully understand the physics of it, but if gas density affects pitch for a given frequency, would it matter whether the origin is a vocal chord or a mandolin string?

[onlyagibsonisgoodenuff]

You'd have to be in there to play it; just think, you'd be able to sing tenor to a dog whistle!

[Jeff_Stallard]

So...you're saying that it WOULD work? Two musicians at work say it wouldn't work, but I think it would.

It wouldn't work.......duh........ #http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

[Jim Garber]

NMC, but check out this site (http://strindbergandhelium.com/) for entertainment. there is helium content!

Jim

[sunburst]

OK, I thought about it for just a minute or two, here's what I think so far.

Your voice creates sound by setting a column of air, or helium, in motion. Thats why the gas density affects the sound. Vocal cords are actually vocal folds and don't function the same as a string.
A mandolin string vibrates at a certain frequency because of length gauge and tension. None of those is affected by the density of the surrounding gas, so I assume the pitch would stay the same, unless the helium offered less "wind resistance" and raised the pich very slightly.

However!
There are air modes at work in the mandolin. If those were changed to helium modes, I suspect they would be different.

In conclusion, I think it would be the same or nearly the same pitch, but would probably sound different.

[Jeff_Stallard]

I just discovered that it would NOT work, because helium gas constricts the area when inhaled changing the ocillation and fequency of your voice as you begin to speak.

[Rroyd]

Interesting topic that brought back memories of the time when we were playing for a party and everyone in the band grabbed a helium-filled balloon and inhaled deeply before starting a four-part acappella intro to a song. #As I recall, we were even able to do in key but we sounded like Alvin and the Chipmunks, and our instruments weren't affected by our breathing on them at all. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[mandofiddle]

LOL, I have a vocal part in one of our tunes that is the high A. I've joked that it would be a good stage antic to have a balloon (with air not helium) and inhale before my part from the ballon (as if it were helium, hey I don't need to kill anymore brain cells). It'd be pretty funny I think http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[sunburst]

If you wanna kill brain cells, there are plenty of ways. Helium is inert, so it's not one of them. I might suggest...nah... I wont suggest.

[Scott Tichenor]

Hmmm. Appears to be a slow day out here. Think I'll go mow the lawn.

[JGWoods]

If you wanna kill brain cells, there are plenty of ways. Helium is inert, so it's not one of them. I might suggest...nah... I wont suggest.
When you inhale helium, you get no oxygen, and your brain doesn't like it. The light headed feeling you get is lack of oxygen, and when you do it 5 -10 times in a row you pass out, but you sound like a chipmunk passing out.
best
gw

[pickinpox]

I think you might end up with a straight sided mandolin because helium prevents "the bends" http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

[Kelly_guy]

Good one, pickinpox!

I agree with sunburst. The fundamental tone wouldn't change for any given string you play. However, the sound of a mandolin isn't just the fundamental, that would make for a very boring tone. The air-filled (or helium-filled) body of the mandolin has resonance modes. The overall tone would definitely change a bit. You'd still hear an E as an E, it just wouldn't sound like the mandolin you're used to hearing.

[John Flynn]

The mando might not sound higher, but it would be lighter! You might have put the scroll and the strap on the treble side to keep it from floating up!
http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif