Background: OvertonesThe term overtone is used to refer to any resonant frequency above the fundamental frequency. The note played is the Fundamental or “Root” note and this note creates a standing wave along the length of the string or the length of the instrument depending on the instrument. The overtones are standing waves that fit inside the length of the fundamental standing wave looking something like this:

A trained ear can hear these different frequencies even when only the root note is being played. You will notice in the figure above that each overtone adds one half wave length, these shorter wavelengths resonate in the instrument at the same time.

— PURE SOUND —An Examination Of Pure Tones In Musical Instruments

Results: What did we find?As we analyzed the data we collected from the program we found that the overtones were the frequencies about the fundamental note with the greatest amplitude. These frequencies are indicated by the red arrows. Since we are looking for the instrument that releases the purest sound, that instrument would be the one with the least amount of overtones being created. That instrument would have the purest sound because it produces the least frequencies. The Flute had the least overtones and thus is the purest.

Steven Boyce, Gordon Bowns, Erin Horton

Objective: We are trying to look at the “perfect pitch”, or what pure sound looks like when viewed as sound waves. We are also looking at the overtones of the notes F and B♭ and we’re seeing how the sound waves of these notes compare to their overtones. All of this is done to try and see what the purest sound looks like when represented by a visual sound wave.

Methodology: What did we do?First, we determined that we would select several instruments and collect recordings of them playing on a concert F and B♭. We chose these pitches because they are commonly used for tuning instruments. The instruments we chose were Gordon’s voice, trumpet, piano, saxophone, violin, flute, guitar, and french horn. Then we used a program that could identify all of the frequencies being produced.

Relevance:As we have discussed longitudinal waves in class, it was interesting to see this concept applied to music. It is easy to predict where the overtones will be based on the location where the wave and the reflected wave intersect.

Gordon’s Voice

Trumpet

Piano

Saxophone

French Horn

Violin

Guitar

Flute

Buz

z So

und

Root

1 overtone

23456

78

9

The Program used was Audio Function Analyzer EQ Rta