Do sine waves (pure tones) have overtones?

5 Answers. One pure sine wave does not have an overtone or harmonic.

1. Do pure tones have overtones?
2. Are sine waves pure tones?
3. What instruments don't have overtones?
4. What does a pure sine wave sound like?

Do pure tones have overtones?

A pure note, one with no overtones, has a shape that is a sine wave: A pure note with twice the frequency has a shape that looks like this: ... Second, even though the shape is different, the period and frequency are the same as the fundamental above.

Are sine waves pure tones?

“The standard answer is that a completely pure tone is a sine wave tone,” says Aksnes, “that is, an even Hertz frequency that forms an s-shaped sine wave.”

What instruments don't have overtones?

A pure sine wave is the only instrument that plays a tone without any overtones.

What does a pure sine wave sound like?

DEFINITION: A sine wave sounds like it looks: smooth and clean. It is sound at its most basic. The sound of a sine wave is only made up of one thing, something known as the fundamental. ... Try whistling one note or imagine the sound of a tuning fork.