Harmony comes from the harmonic overtone series, not the other way around. The word "harmony" is misleading, because you can have a harmony that is consonant and a harmony that is dissonant. The consonant one sets into the harmonic overtone series, the dissonant one clashes. In modern music, fewer and fewer "harmonies" are harmonic. If modern music were an internal combustion engine, it would shake apart, the harmonic balancer wouldn't be working correctly.

When a vibrating column exists, it gives a fundamental tone, then it has "overtones" above it. Guitar players use this when they play "harmonics" and wind players use this when they overblow an octave or a high fifth.

Melodies don't really imply harmonies, melodies and harmonies both imply the overtone series, with the important notes being what we call "chordal tones." When you map out the overtone series you get a natural scale, do re me and etc., with the perfect intervals in tune (What, pray tell are these? You tell me.), and the imperfect ones a little flat from what a piano would play.

The overtone series is an aspect of the component of pitch. A good pitch is one that gets a cut (songwriter joke)

All the Best,
Mike

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Mike Dunbar Music



[This message has been edited by Mike Dunbar (edited 07-30-2004).]

You've got to know your limitations. I don't know what your limitations are. I found out what mine were when I was twelve. I found out that there weren't too many limitations, if I did it my way. -Johnny Cash

It's only music.
-niteshift

Mike Dunbar Music