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Harmonics and overtones
Intermediate
Higher modes of vibration give timbre.
The nth harmonic is n times the fundamental; the first overtone is the second harmonic. The mix of harmonics gives an instrument its timbre.
A violin and a flute playing 440 Hz sound different.
"Overtone" counting starts from the second harmonic.
In more detail
Harmonics are integer multiples of the fundamental frequency. Overtones are the frequencies above the fundamental, and together they determine the timbre of a note.
Real-world uses
- Musical instruments produce rich sounds from many harmonics.
- Audio engineers use harmonic analysis to recognise instruments.
- A trumpet and a flute play the same note but sound different because their harmonics have different strengths.
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Frequently asked questions
Is the second harmonic the first overtone?
Yes, the first overtone is the second harmonic for a string.
Why do harmonics matter?
They give instruments their characteristic sound quality.
Is a harmonic always the same as an overtone?
Not quite. The first overtone is the second harmonic, so the numbering differs by one.
Related topics in Waves & Sound
Standing waves · Nodes and antinodes · Modes of a stretched string · Open organ pipe · Closed organ pipe · End correction