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A soundwave is vibrations of acoustic pressure that travel through air molecules. Soundwaves would look like bubbles if we could see them, but once they enter the electronic and digital worlds, they are shown on a two-dimensional graph where the y-axis defines the amplitude (or loudness) of a |
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signal and the x-axis defines the frequency (or pitch). The sinewave that is seen above is the most basic waveform in audio. It a single pitch with no harmonics (or overtones). Harmonics are additional pitches that are sounded with a signal. They are higher pitched and based on fractions or ratios of the original signal. For example a guitar string vibrates as a whole. It also vibrates as in halves (one half going one way while the other half does the opposite). |
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In addition, it vibrates in thirds, fourths, fifths, and so on. Every time the length of the vibrating material or wave is affected the pitch changes. So, when a string vibrates in halves, it produces a pitch half the wavelength and twice the frequency (or one octave higher) of the original. The series of pitches produced as harmonics may seem |
familiar to you. They are the basis of western music harmony, producing octaves, fifths, and thirds. The image on the right shows how different numbered harmonics fall into series with different notes of the scale. If you want to hear these for yourself, there is a simply test that you can do to help your ear notice the different harmonics. |
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Sit down at an acoustic piano and play a low “C” note. Hold it out and listen for higher pitches in the sound. Stop the note and play one of the harmonics (as listed in the staff such as “G”, “E”, or a higher “C”) immediately afterward. Listen for that harmonic as you play the low “C” note again. Repeat this process for the different harmonics. If you want to make the harmonics sound more apparent, hold down the sustain pedal while playing the fundamental. The harmonics of that note will cause the related note’s strings on the piano to resonate. This is called sympathetic vibration (when a specific item resonates at a specific frequency, other items tuned to the same frequency will begin to resonate as well). Now you should be able to hear many of the harmonics of that low “C” note. See how high in the harmonics series you can hear. You will notice that it gets more difficult as the pitches go higher. Listen to the richness of the sound that is created by having all of those notes sounding as harmonics with the one fundamental note. Finally, try different fundamental pitches and train your ear to listen for harmonics in other instruments as well.
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The two above images show the difference between even and odd harmonics. Notice how the even harmonics are more stable ratios such as octaves while odd harmonics are more unstable, like thirds and sevenths. Even and odd harmonics have different characterizstics. Even harmonics are commonly reffered to as being more stable, smoother, and comforting. Odd harmonics are usually described as more jarring, unstable, and sometimes harsh. |
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