Overtones
Nature has given us a very logical
way of organizing sounds to create chords, melodies, counter melodies etc.
This has been such a natural force in music that it is sometimes overlooked.
The development of "Western Music" has literally followed the course of
Overtones. All basic arranging and orchestration skills pivot
around the law of Overtones. With a thorough understanding of these
laws, you will be able to easily create music that sounds and feels
complete and natural.
Basis for Overtones ~ "vibrations"
When a string is hit and begins
to vibrate, what you see is massive movement throughout the length of the
string. In reality however, the string has been mathematically divided
into several sections. These sub-divisions are referred to as "overtones".
Overtone Divisions:
When a wire or sound waves vibrate, it subdivides
into simultaneously vibrating fractions referred to as Partials, or Overtones.
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The first vibration is called the Fundamental,
or 1st Partial. This is the actual sound
that you initially perceive. For example, if the string is tuned
to a "C", you will hear a "C". In actuality, you are really hearing
several pitches at once. These are the divisions that are occurring
within the string. The following diagram shows how this division
works:
Divisions of a vibrating string generating
individual audible pitches,
called Partials or Overtones.
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The first division then,
is much like taking your finger and placing it exactly half way in the
middle of the string. Because the string is now half the size, you
will hear a pitch exactly one octave higher (from the initial "C" to the
next higher "C"). This is natures 1st Overtone,
or 2nd Partial.
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