Overtones Explained: Why One Note Sounds Full
When you play one note, you never hear just one note. You hear the main note, plus a row of quieter and higher notes on top. All at the same time.
What overtones are
The main note is called the fundamental. Together with the overtones, they are called partials. The fundamental is the first partial. The overtones work like backing singers. You don’t hear them as separate notes. But they are what makes an instrument sound full and rich, instead of flat. 🎶
Overtones also make their own overtones. But they are so quiet that you can’t really hear them.
Play one alone: natural harmonics
On a guitar, you can play a single overtone on its own. Put a finger lightly on a string, right above a fret. Don’t press it down to the fretboard. Play the string, and then lift your finger. What keeps ringing is a natural harmonic. One overtone, without the main note under it.
A natural harmonic sounds very different from a normal note. It is brighter, thinner and less full. And it is quieter. That makes it perfect when a part needs a soft, bell like sound. But because it is quiet, you can’t use it everywhere.
Frequently asked questions
Can I hear the overtones on their own?
Not when you play normally. They blend into the main note and give it a full, rich sound. A natural harmonic is the exception. It lets you hear one overtone on its own.
How do I play a natural harmonic on guitar?
Put a finger lightly on a string, right above a fret. Don't press it down. Play the string, and then lift your finger. What keeps ringing is a single overtone.
Why does a natural harmonic sound so different?
You hear one overtone alone, without the main note and the other overtones. That makes it brighter, thinner and less full than a normal note. It is also quieter.