Overtone
A higher frequency that sounds simultaneously above a fundamental pitch, shaping the tone colour of a note.
Category
pitch
Pronunciation
/ˈəʊvətəʊn/
Origin
German (Oberton)
Length
172 words · 1 min read
About Overtone
When any instrument plays a note, it does not produce a single pure frequency but a whole series of higher vibrations called overtones. The specific pattern and relative strength of these overtones is what makes a violin sound different from a flute even when both play the same written note.
More pitch terms
Temperament
View all pitchterms →A tuning system that determines how the twelve pitches within an octave are spaced.
Enharmonic EquivalentTwo notes that sound the same pitch but are written with different letter names, such as F-sharp and G-flat.
FrequencyThe number of sound-wave vibrations per second, measured in hertz, that determines how high or low a pitch sounds.
TessituraThe range of pitches within which a vocal or instrumental part predominantly sits, distinct from total range.
ScaleAn ordered series of pitches ascending or descending by step.
Synonyms
Antonyms
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v1 · 10/04/2026Browse all terms →