Can One Note Sound Like Three Vowels?

1. 0:05 · Listen to the three sounds without the answer on screen.
2. 0:11 · All three have the same 140 Hz fundamental.
3. 0:17 · Compare the ee-like, ah-like and oo-like sounds with the resonances illustrated.

The pitch stays fixed while resonances boost different sets of harmonics. Resonances in the vocal tract, called formants, help distinguish vowels. These are simplified synth examples, so what you hear may vary with playback, your accent and the sounds you expect.