Virtual fundamental
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The virtual fundamental (VF) or virtual pitch is the perceived pitch of a missing fundamental frequency when only its harmonics are present. This phenomenon allows the brain to create a perception of the fundamental frequency even when it's not physically present.
The concept can also be applied to chords. This is the easiest to see when a chord is written as a sequence of overtones. For example, the virtual fundamental of a 4:5:6 major triad is the fundamental: 1:4:5:6, which in this case is two octaves below the root of the triad. The virtual fundamental may be found similarly for tempered chords, if there is a clear just interpretation. However, in the general case, the virtual fundamental is often ambiguous or not well-defined at all.
External links
- Ernst Terhard, Virtual pitch
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