Understanding the Harmonic Series

Piano Key A to G

For Episode One of my new piano podcast, I thought the Harmonic Series might be a suitable place to start, because it is the scientific underpinning of our entire tonal system, expounding eloquently the pre-ordained. mathematical relationships between notes of the scale - be they harmonious, or dissonant, in nature. I shall attempt to break down what exactly is meant by the Harmonic or ‘Overtones’ Series, and offer an explanation as to why our scale is divided into twelve equal intervals, forming the basis of our diatonic - major and minor - understanding of music.

Unbeknownst to most of us, when we listen to a particular note, or ‘tone’ - for example, as played on the keyboard of a piano, bowed against the string of a violin, struck on the side of a bell, blown through a flute, or even sung by a vocalist - we are actually hearing a long and unique series of interrelated tones, possessing sympathetic vibrations with one another, on the factual basis that each sound wave oscillates at multiple divisions at once. These multiple frequencies, at the fundamental, half, third, quarter, and so on, cause harmonics, or overtones, thus giving each particular note its individual quality or ‘timbre’.

When a low C on the piano is struck, with a frequency [in Hertz] of 65, it also produces faint, related overtones, at each multiple above, thus 65, 130, 195, and so on. This in part explains the richness and complexity we hear in low base notes, as our ears [consciously or otherwise] are able to pick out elements of the Harmonic Series.

If you have an acoustic or digital piano to hand, or if you are just moderately interested in the instrument: grab a drink, and sit down with me for half an hour, as we unpick the extraordinary, fascinating divinity of sound!

For further information, please visit my website: whaviland.com/podcast