Music & Acoustics

Intermediate

Harmonic Series

Overtones of a note are whole-number multiples of the fundamental.

Formula

f_n = n f_1

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Variables

f_nn-th harmonic (Hz)

nHarmonic number

f_1Fundamental (Hz)

Example

Fundamental 100 Hz: 3rd harmonic = 300 Hz

Did You Know?

The relative strength of harmonics is what makes a violin and a flute playing the same note sound completely different.

music harmonic overtone

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