Harmonic: Difference between revisions
+link to the category of individual pages |
"harmonic oscillator" means something else |
||
| Line 2: | Line 2: | ||
A '''harmonic''' is a whole-number multiple of the fundamental frequency of a sound. It is an element of the [[harmonic series]]. | A '''harmonic''' is a whole-number multiple of the fundamental frequency of a sound. It is an element of the [[harmonic series]]. | ||
The timbre of | The timbre of a periodic sound, such as a bowed violin or the human voice, contains a nearly infinite amount of harmonic [[partial]]s, starting with 1''f'', 2''f'', 3''f'', 4''f''... where ''f'' is the fundamental frequency. Each of these harmonics has a distinct amplitude, generally decreasing as the 'height' of the harmonic increases. The span between any two of these harmonics is called a [[just interval]]. | ||
The ancient Greeks called these harmonics "multiples", and considered them to be a unique interval class separate from [[superparticular]] and [[superpartient]] intervals. | The ancient Greeks called these harmonics "multiples", and considered them to be a unique interval class separate from [[superparticular]] and [[superpartient]] intervals. | ||
Revision as of 22:55, 14 May 2025
A harmonic is a whole-number multiple of the fundamental frequency of a sound. It is an element of the harmonic series.
The timbre of a periodic sound, such as a bowed violin or the human voice, contains a nearly infinite amount of harmonic partials, starting with 1f, 2f, 3f, 4f... where f is the fundamental frequency. Each of these harmonics has a distinct amplitude, generally decreasing as the 'height' of the harmonic increases. The span between any two of these harmonics is called a just interval.
The ancient Greeks called these harmonics "multiples", and considered them to be a unique interval class separate from superparticular and superpartient intervals.
A subharmonic is a unit fraction of the fundamental frequency of a sound. It is an element of the subharmonic series.
Individual pages
See Category: Harmonics.