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Overtones: meaning, definitions and examples

๐ŸŽถ
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overtones

 

[หˆoสŠ.vษ™r.toสŠnz ]

Definition

Context #1 | Noun

musical sound

Overtones are higher frequency tones that resonate above the fundamental frequency of a musical sound. These tones give a richness and complexity to the overall sound.

Synonyms

harmonics, partials, resonances.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
overtones

When describing the additional frequencies that are higher than the fundamental frequency in musical and acoustic contexts.

  • The overtones added a rich texture to the sound of the violin.
  • In acoustics, overtones help distinguish the timbre of different instruments.
harmonics

In music and physics, used to discuss integer multiples of a fundamental frequency, often in relation to vibrating strings or air columns.

  • When you pluck a guitar string, you can hear the fundamental note as well as its harmonics.
  • The harmonics created by the vocal cords are what give the human voice its unique sound.
partials

Technical term in music and acoustics for the constituents of a sound, including the fundamental frequency and any higher frequencies.

  • The analysis of the sound revealed numerous partials contributing to its complex timbre.
  • Understanding partials helps in creating realistic digital music synthesizers.
resonances

Used to describe the phenomena where a system vibrates at specific frequencies with larger amplitudes. Common in both physics and musical contexts.

  • The resonances in the concert hall enhance the quality of the music.
  • When you hit the right frequency, the glass started to vibrate due to its natural resonances.

Examples of usage

  • The flute produces beautiful overtones when played softly.
  • His singing voice had a clear presence of overtones.
  • The piano tuner adjusted the strings to enhance the overtones.
  • The overtones of the violin added depth to the music.
  • She could hear the overtones of the guitar in the distance.

Interesting Facts

Science

  • When a string vibrates, it creates not just a single sound, but several sounds or overtones that enrich the music.
  • In acoustics, overtones are important because they help determine the timbre, or color, of a sound, making a flute sound different from a piano even if they play the same note.

Music Theory

  • Overtones are classified into harmonic overtones, which are related to the fundamental frequency, and inharmonic overtones, which do not align with any whole number frequency.
  • Musicians can use overtones to create unique sounds and effects, like using multiphonics on a wind instrument to play multiple notes at once.

Psychology

  • Overtones influence how we perceive music emotionally; certain overtones can evoke feelings of joy, sadness, or nostalgia.
  • The presence of specific overtones can trigger memories and associations in listeners, engaging their emotional responses to music.

Literature

  • In poetry and prose, the concept of overtones can reflect the deeper meanings and emotions behind words, enriching the text beyond its literal interpretation.
  • Writers often use language that carries overtones to evoke specific feelings or themes, creating layers of meaning similar to music.

Cultural Impact

  • Different cultures have varying interpretations of musical overtones, influencing their music styles and practices, such as the use of throat singing in Mongolian culture.
  • Overtones play a critical role in the construction of traditional instruments, where artisans design to enhance specific auditory layers that reflect their heritage.

Translations

Translations of the word "overtones" in other languages:

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น harmรดnicos

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ เคธเฅเคตเคฐเค—เฅเคฃ

๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช Obertรถne

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ nada lebih tinggi

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ะพะฑะตั€ั‚ะพะฝะธ

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฑ alikwoty

๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต ๅ€้Ÿณ๏ผˆใฐใ„ใŠใ‚“๏ผ‰

๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท harmoniques

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ sobretonos

๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท รผst tonlar

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท ๋ฐฐ์Œ

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ุงู„ุฃุตูˆุงุช ุงู„ุชูˆุงูู‚ูŠุฉ

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฟ pล™ezvuky

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฐ alikutรณny

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ ๆณ›้Ÿณ

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฎ harmoniki

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ธ yfirtonar

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ฟ ะฐั€ั‚ั‹า› ะดั‹ะฑั‹ัั‚ะฐั€

๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ช แƒฐแƒแƒ แƒ›แƒแƒœแƒ˜แƒฃแƒšแƒ˜ แƒขแƒแƒœแƒ”แƒ‘แƒ˜

๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ฟ overtone

๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ sobretonos

Word Frequency Rank

With rank #17,263, this word belongs to specialized vocabulary. While not common in everyday speech, it enriches your ability to express complex ideas.