What dictates the timbre, or tone quality, that allows us to distinguish between instruments playing the same note?
Answer
The relative strength (amplitude) of the overtones present.
Timbre is determined by the unique fingerprint of a sound, which comes from the specific amplitudes assigned to the different overtones; two instruments sounding the same pitch will differ because their overtone strengths vary.
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Music Theory | What is the Overtone Series? - YouTube
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