Frequency Selectivity and the Tonal Residue

The accuracy with which the repetition frequency of a band filtered pulse train (residue) can be determined, appears to be much higher for combinations of filter frequency f and repetition frequency g, leading to a tonal residue then for combinations of which the result is an atonal residue (Ritsma (1971)). This finding (for f = 2 kHz) suggests that the existence region of the tonal residue can be determined by means of frequency-discrimination measurements. The available data regarding the existence region have been obtained using the criterion: “Is the correct low pitch present?” (Ritsma (1962), Walliser (1968)). With that aim experiment I was carried out. Besides, this gave the possibility to consider the importance of frequency resolution for tonality from a different point of view.