One frequency or many?

The idea

Everyday sounds mix many frequencies; a tone has a single frequency, while a musical note combines a lowest frequency, the fundamental, with higher frequencies called overtones.

A tuning fork and a tanpura

A tuning fork gives a clean, plain sound. A tanpura string sounds rich and full.

What do you think makes the tanpura sound richer?

• It combines several frequencies
• It has a single frequency
• It has no frequency

Look inside the sound

Choose a sound. Each bar is one frequency in it. The bars are only an example.

Fundamental and overtones

A tone is a sound of a single frequency, like that of a tuning fork or oral whistling. A musical note, such as a plucked tanpura string, combines a lowest frequency called the fundamental with higher frequencies called overtones.

Everyday sounds mix many frequencies. A tone is a sound of a single frequency, while a musical note is a combination of a lowest frequency, the fundamental, and higher frequencies called overtones, which together make a rich and pleasant sound.

Notes

A tone has a single frequency. A musical note combines the fundamental (lowest frequency) with higher frequencies called overtones.

Check yourself

What is a tone?

What is the fundamental in a musical note?

What are overtones?

Which of these gives a tone, a sound of a single frequency?

• A sound made of many different frequencies. Everyday sounds are mixtures of many frequencies. A tone has a single frequency.
• A sound of a single frequency — correct. Yes!
• A sound with a very high amplitude. A tone is defined by its single frequency, not by its amplitude.
• The highest frequency in the note. The overtones are the higher frequencies. The fundamental is the lowest.
• The loudest sound in the note. The fundamental is defined as the lowest frequency, not the loudest part.
• The lowest frequency in the note — correct. Yes!
• The higher frequencies combined with the fundamental in a musical note — correct. Yes!
• The lower frequencies below the fundamental. The fundamental is the lowest frequency, so overtones are higher.
• Another name for the amplitude. Overtones are higher frequencies in a musical note. They have nothing to do with amplitude.
• A plucked tanpura string. A plucked tanpura string gives a musical note, a combination of a fundamental and overtones.
• A tuning fork — correct. Yes!
• A crowd talking. Everyday sounds contain a mixture of many frequencies.