The Overtone Series
The Overtone Series is a phenomenon where a single pitch produces additional harmonic pitches. All intervals begin with the fundamental pitch. Below we will develop the Overtone Series with the fundamental of C3.
- Intervals you will need to recognize: Octave, Perfect 5, Perfect 4th, Minor 7th.
- Intervals you will need to recognize: Octave, Perfect 5, Perfect 4th, Minor 7th.
C Overtone Series
Below is a the C Overtone Series on the music staff with the intervals between partials. You can determine all the pitches in other overtone series by following the these intervals.
2nd Partial;
1 Octave Above Fundamental
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3rd Partial;
1 Octave + Perfect 5th Above Fundamental
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4th Partial;
2 Octaves Above Fundamental
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5th Partial;
2 Octaves + Major 3rd Above Fundamental
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6th Partial;
2 Octave + Perfect 5th Above Fundamental
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7th Partial;
2 Octave + minor 7th Above Fundamental
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8nd Partial;
3 Octaves Above Fundamental
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Pitch Tendencies
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The Overtone Series follows a mathematics sequence you can use to group partials together. Partials that double themselves will be the same pitch AND pitch tendencies.
In the C Overtone Series. 1, 2, 4, 8, 16 = C, No Pitch Tendencies. 3, 6, 12 = G (Perfect 5th Above), Sharp. 5, 10 = E (Perfect 4th Above), Flat. 7, 14 = Bb (Minor 7th Above), Very Flat. Note: These pitch tendencies can be "in tune" if they are able to be played with a certain fingering. |
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A Song to Remember
A way to remember these tendencies to is sing the following to the tune of "3 Blind Mice"
3, 6, 12 ... 3, 6, 12
These notes are sharp (sharp sung sharp)... These notes are sharp (sharp sung sharp)...
5 and 10 are moderately flat (flat sung flat)... 5 and 10 are moderately flat (flat sung flat)...
and 7's very flat (vey flat sung very flat)
These notes are sharp (sharp sung sharp)... These notes are sharp (sharp sung sharp)...
5 and 10 are moderately flat (flat sung flat)... 5 and 10 are moderately flat (flat sung flat)...
and 7's very flat (vey flat sung very flat)
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To the right are is a PDF to download that shows the Overtone Series for each fundamental up to the 8th partial. "Right-Click" to open in a new tab.
Pitches are colored to show the pitch tendency in the overtone series. Beneath each exercise is the fingering for each pitch and that fingerings pitch tendency. Use this as resource to develop your knowledge of each pitches tendency. Start in small segments, only going up and down from the 2nd to 3rd partial. Once those are consistently in tune, add another partial. Continue this until you are able to play the 2nd to 8th partial in tune. Be sure to use both a tuner and your ears to aid you in getting the pitches in tune. |
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Dive in Deeper
Click the link below for a full detailed explanation of each partial in the overtone series, courtesy of Max and Scott McGee of the American Band College.
https://www.bandworld.org/html/OvertoneIntro.html
https://www.bandworld.org/html/OvertoneIntro.html