Harmonic timbre - Revision history

Sintel: clarifications and corrections

2026-06-05T21:40:54Z

clarifications and corrections

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:40, 5 June 2026
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	{{Wikipedia\|Harmonic spectrum}}		{{Wikipedia\|Harmonic spectrum}}

	A [[timbre]] is '''harmonic''' when ~~its~~ [[~~frequency~~]] ~~spectrum has the property that all overtones~~ are ~~exact~~ multiples of the lowest frequency. ~~This causes the sound wave to be~~ periodic (~~where~~ the ~~frequency of~~ the ~~sound wave is~~ the ~~frequency~~ of the ~~lowest note in~~ the ~~spectrum)~~ and ~~causes just intervals to be concordant through~~ the ~~alignment~~ of ~~partials~~. Examples of harmonic timbres include those of most instruments, the human voice, and most synthesized tones (like saw, square, and triangle waves).		A [[timbre]] is '''harmonic''' when all [[overtone]]s are integer multiples of the lowest frequency.
			All periodic waves are harmonic.
			The [[fundamental]], which is (usually) the lowest overtone in the spectrum, determines the [[pitch]] of a musical tone.
			When considered as intervals, the sequence of harmonic overtones is called the [[harmonic series]] and is the basis of [[just intonation]].

			Examples of harmonic timbres include those of most instruments, the human voice, and most synthesized tones (like saw, square, and triangle waves).

	A timbre can be said to be '''nearly harmonic''' if its overtones are approximately equal to integer multiples of the fundamental frequency. Examples include most plucked and hammered string instruments (like violin-family played ''pizzicato'', guitars, harpsichords, and pianos).		A timbre can be said to be '''nearly harmonic''' if its overtones are approximately equal to integer multiples of the fundamental frequency. Examples include most plucked and hammered string instruments (like violin-family played ''pizzicato'', guitars, harpsichords, and pianos).

Lucius Chiaraviglio: Improve examples

2026-06-05T19:12:11Z

Improve examples

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:12, 5 June 2026
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	A [[timbre]] is '''harmonic''' when its [[frequency]] spectrum has the property that all overtones are exact multiples of the lowest frequency. This causes the sound wave to be periodic (where the frequency of the sound wave is the frequency of the lowest note in the spectrum) and causes just intervals to be concordant through the alignment of partials. Examples of harmonic timbres include those of most instruments, the human voice, and most synthesized tones (like saw, square, and triangle waves).		A [[timbre]] is '''harmonic''' when its [[frequency]] spectrum has the property that all overtones are exact multiples of the lowest frequency. This causes the sound wave to be periodic (where the frequency of the sound wave is the frequency of the lowest note in the spectrum) and causes just intervals to be concordant through the alignment of partials. Examples of harmonic timbres include those of most instruments, the human voice, and most synthesized tones (like saw, square, and triangle waves).

	A timbre can be said to be '''nearly harmonic''' if its overtones are approximately equal to integer multiples of the fundamental frequency. Examples include most plucked string instruments (like ~~cellos~~ played ''pizzicato'', guitars, and pianos).		A timbre can be said to be '''nearly harmonic''' if its overtones are approximately equal to integer multiples of the fundamental frequency. Examples include most plucked and hammered string instruments (like violin-family played ''pizzicato'', guitars, harpsichords, and pianos).

	A timbre is '''inharmonic''' if its overtones deviate significantly from integer multiples of the fundamental. Examples include ~~metallophones~~ (like ~~those~~ used in [[gamelan]]) ~~and drums~~.		A timbre is '''inharmonic''' if its overtones deviate significantly from integer multiples of the fundamental. Examples include membranophones (drums) and idiophones (like xylophones, glockenspiels, and many of the instruments used in [[gamelan]]).

	[[Category:Timbre]]		[[Category:Timbre]]

Hkm at 23:49, 27 April 2025

2025-04-27T23:49:55Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:49, 27 April 2025
Line 1:		Line 1:
	{{Wikipedia\|Harmonic spectrum}}		{{Wikipedia\|Harmonic spectrum}}

	A [[timbre]] is '''harmonic''' when its [[frequency]] spectrum has the property that all overtones are exact multiples of the lowest frequency. This causes the sound wave to be periodic (where the frequency of the sound wave is the frequency of the lowest note in the spectrum) and causes just intervals to be concordant. Examples of harmonic timbres include those of most instruments, the human voice, and most synthesized tones (like saw, square, and triangle waves).		A [[timbre]] is '''harmonic''' when its [[frequency]] spectrum has the property that all overtones are exact multiples of the lowest frequency. This causes the sound wave to be periodic (where the frequency of the sound wave is the frequency of the lowest note in the spectrum) and causes just intervals to be concordant through the alignment of partials. Examples of harmonic timbres include those of most instruments, the human voice, and most synthesized tones (like saw, square, and triangle waves).

	A timbre can be said to be '''nearly harmonic''' if its overtones are approximately equal to integer multiples of the fundamental frequency. Examples include most plucked string instruments (like cellos played ''pizzicato'', guitars, and pianos).		A timbre can be said to be '''nearly harmonic''' if its overtones are approximately equal to integer multiples of the fundamental frequency. Examples include most plucked string instruments (like cellos played ''pizzicato'', guitars, and pianos).

	A timbre is '''inharmonic''' if its overtones deviate significantly from integer multiples of the fundamental. Examples include ~~bells, gamelans,~~ and drums.		A timbre is '''inharmonic''' if its overtones deviate significantly from integer multiples of the fundamental. Examples include metallophones (like those used in [[gamelan]]) and drums.

	[[Category:Timbre]]		[[Category:Timbre]]

ArrowHead294 at 18:22, 29 March 2025

2025-03-29T18:22:06Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:22, 29 March 2025
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	{{Wikipedia\|Harmonic ~~Spectrum~~}}		{{Wikipedia\|Harmonic spectrum}}

	A [[timbre]] is '''harmonic''' when its [[frequency]] spectrum has the property that all overtones are exact multiples of the lowest frequency. This causes the sound wave to be periodic (where the frequency of the sound wave is the frequency of the lowest note in the spectrum) and causes just intervals to be concordant. Examples of harmonic timbres include those of most instruments, the human voice, and most synthesized tones (like saw, square, and triangle waves).		A [[timbre]] is '''harmonic''' when its [[frequency]] spectrum has the property that all overtones are exact multiples of the lowest frequency. This causes the sound wave to be periodic (where the frequency of the sound wave is the frequency of the lowest note in the spectrum) and causes just intervals to be concordant. Examples of harmonic timbres include those of most instruments, the human voice, and most synthesized tones (like saw, square, and triangle waves).

Hkm at 17:47, 14 March 2025

2025-03-14T17:47:35Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:47, 14 March 2025
Line 1:		Line 1:
	{{Wikipedia\|Harmonic Spectrum}}		{{Wikipedia\|Harmonic Spectrum}}

	A [[timbre]] is '''harmonic''' when its [[frequency]] spectrum has the property that all overtones are exact multiples of the lowest frequency ~~(as is the case with most methods of sound production, including the human voice, most instruments, and square, saw, and triangle waves)~~. This causes the sound wave to be periodic (where the frequency of the sound wave is the frequency of the lowest note in the spectrum) and causes just intervals to be concordant.		A [[timbre]] is '''harmonic''' when its [[frequency]] spectrum has the property that all overtones are exact multiples of the lowest frequency. This causes the sound wave to be periodic (where the frequency of the sound wave is the frequency of the lowest note in the spectrum) and causes just intervals to be concordant. Examples of harmonic timbres include those of most instruments, the human voice, and most synthesized tones (like saw, square, and triangle waves).

	A timbre can be said to be '''nearly harmonic''' if its overtones are approximately equal to integer multiples of the fundamental frequency. ~~The frequency spectra of pianos, harpsichords, and any~~ string ~~instrument with plucked strings such as the guitar, as well as the violin, viola, cello, and upright bass when~~ played ''pizzicato'' ~~are examples~~.		A timbre can be said to be '''nearly harmonic''' if its overtones are approximately equal to integer multiples of the fundamental frequency. Examples include most plucked string instruments (like cellos played ''pizzicato'', guitars, and pianos).

	A timbre is '''inharmonic''' if its overtones deviate significantly from integer multiples of the fundamental. Examples include bells, gamelans, and drums.		A timbre is '''inharmonic''' if its overtones deviate significantly from integer multiples of the fundamental. Examples include bells, gamelans, and drums.

	[[Category:Timbre]]		[[Category:Timbre]]

Hkm at 17:45, 14 March 2025

2025-03-14T17:45:07Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:45, 14 March 2025
Line 1:		Line 1:
			{{Wikipedia\|Harmonic Spectrum}}

	A [[timbre]] is '''harmonic''' when its [[frequency]] spectrum has the property that all overtones are exact multiples of the lowest frequency (as is the case with most methods of sound production, including the human voice, most instruments, and square, saw, and triangle waves). This causes the sound wave to be periodic (where the frequency of the sound wave is the frequency of the lowest note in the spectrum) and causes just intervals to be concordant.		A [[timbre]] is '''harmonic''' when its [[frequency]] spectrum has the property that all overtones are exact multiples of the lowest frequency (as is the case with most methods of sound production, including the human voice, most instruments, and square, saw, and triangle waves). This causes the sound wave to be periodic (where the frequency of the sound wave is the frequency of the lowest note in the spectrum) and causes just intervals to be concordant.

ArrowHead294: Expand and categorise

2025-03-14T16:30:01Z

Expand and categorise

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:30, 14 March 2025
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	A [[timbre]] is '''harmonic''' when its [[frequency]] spectrum has the property that all ~~non-negligible frequencies~~ are multiples of the lowest frequency (as is the case with most methods of sound production, including the human voice, most instruments, and square/saw/triangle waves). This causes the sound wave to be periodic (where the frequency of the sound wave is the frequency of the lowest note in the spectrum) and causes just intervals to be concordant.		A [[timbre]] is '''harmonic''' when its [[frequency]] spectrum has the property that all overtones are exact multiples of the lowest frequency (as is the case with most methods of sound production, including the human voice, most instruments, and square, saw, and triangle waves). This causes the sound wave to be periodic (where the frequency of the sound wave is the frequency of the lowest note in the spectrum) and causes just intervals to be concordant.

	~~If a~~ timbre ~~is not~~ harmonic, it is inharmonic.		A timbre can be said to be '''nearly harmonic''' if its overtones are approximately equal to integer multiples of the fundamental frequency. The frequency spectra of pianos, harpsichords, and any string instrument with plucked strings such as the guitar, as well as the violin, viola, cello, and upright bass when played ''pizzicato'' are examples.

			A timbre is '''inharmonic''' if its overtones deviate significantly from integer multiples of the fundamental. Examples include bells, gamelans, and drums.

			[[Category:Timbre]]

Hkm: Initial version

2025-03-14T16:24:55Z

Initial version

New page

A [[timbre]] is '''harmonic''' when its [[frequency]] spectrum has the property that all non-negligible frequencies are multiples of the lowest frequency (as is the case with most methods of sound production, including the human voice, most instruments, and square/saw/triangle waves). This causes the sound wave to be periodic (where the frequency of the sound wave is the frequency of the lowest note in the spectrum) and causes just intervals to be concordant.

If a timbre is not harmonic, it is inharmonic.