Topmusicanswers
- What are the intervals of the harmonic series?
- Is just intonation the harmonic series?
- How does the harmonic series affect timbre?
- What is the fundamental in this harmonic series?
What are the intervals of the harmonic series?
The intervals in the harmonic series are in this order:
Perfect 8th (octave), Perfect 5th, Perfect 4th, Major 3rd, Minor 3rd, Minor 3rd, Major 2nd, Major 2nd, Major 2nd, Major 2nd, Minor 2nd, Major 2nd, Minor 2nd, Minor 2nd, Minor 2nd...
Is just intonation the harmonic series?
Just intonation frequencies are based on the harmonic series. A fundamental tone is picked and then all of its harmonics are transposed within one octave (that is, in the range of the first two harmonics). The first N harmonics account for 12 different notes in that range.
How does the harmonic series affect timbre?
The harmonic series affects timbre because each type of instrument produces a distinctive pattern of loud and soft overtones. As we move farther from the fundamental pitch, overtones have a tendency to become more quiet, but on some instruments particular overtones are more or less powerful than this tendency suggests.
What is the fundamental in this harmonic series?
This pitch is called the fundamental. All of the notes that make up the harmonic series above that pitch are called overtones because they happen above, or 'over,' the fundamental pitch. They can also be called partials because they are parts of a pitch.
