By Joanne Garcia

What are Overtones?

Overtones are the "ghost notes", the harmonic series of notes above a single pitch that may be heard in conjunction with the fundamental note. Its frequency is a multiple of the pitch that is being played.  While we hear a single pitch, a vibrating string produces a series of higher, quieter frequencies simultaneously.  These frequencies enhance the richness when the fundamental note is played in tune.  Understanding these overtones is like moving from a black-and-white sketch to a full-color painting and they can help you turn a thin sound into a professional one. Learning to listen to overtones will improve your tone and intonation.  This article refers to violin as the instrument, but overtones apply to viola, cello, piano, and other instruments. 

The Physics of the "Ring"

Truly understanding overtones can be very technical, and scientific.  However, a basic understanding of sympathetic resonance can get you started on your journey to producing a better sound.  When you play a note, the string doesn’t just vibrate as one long arc. It also vibrates in halves, thirds, and quarters. These divisions create the overtone series. On the violin, certain notes (like G, D, A, and E) share frequencies with the open strings. When you play a "D" on the A-string perfectly in tune, the open D-string will vibrate on its own through sympathetic resonance. This creates a physical "ring" or bloom in the sound that tells you the note is mathematically centered. 

Try it!  Play a D on the A string and look down at your open D to see if it is moving.  It’s magical!

More Science Stuff

But wait, there’s more!  Play an open A and listen carefully to the overtones.  Try it on a piano, too!

Here’s a graph that might help you visualize what’s happening.

Improving Intonation

Pitch on violin can be elusive; however, overtones are the ultimate unbiased judge of pitch.  Practice listening for overtones when you’re playing scales.  Listen for the ring!  If you are playing out of tune, the sound waves bounce against each other and produce a warble.  Pay attention to the vibrations coming through the chinrest.

• The "Ring" Test: If you play a third-finger G on the D-string and it sounds "dead," you are likely playing it out of tune, that is, slightly flat or sharp. If it hits the sweet spot, the open G-string vibrates, and the instrument feels more resonant. 
• Harmonic Alignment: When you practice, overtones teach your ear to listen for the "beats” or the warble that occur when a note is slightly out of tune. When the beats disappear and the sound clears, you’re playing in tune.  You can feel the beats in your chin, too! 

Take a few minutes and listen to the ring, watch your open strings, and learn to feel the sweet spot when you’re practicing your scales.  The vibrations you feel through the chinrest are much more comfortable when you are playing in tune.  Take your time, long slow notes.

Refine Your Tone Production

As your skills advance, you can experiment with changing your tone.  Overtones also dictate the quality of your sound, often referred to as timbre. By varying your bow speed, pressure, and sounding point (how close you are to the bridge), you can highlight different overtones.  This may be difficult to work into your repertoire, but you can try placing the bow at different distances from the bridge and listening to the sound, the timbre.

• The "Core" of the Sound: A nice straight bow stroke that engages the string deeply brings out the lower overtones, and creates a warm, chocolatey sound.  Most of the time, this is sound you want!
• Brilliance: Playing closer to the bridge (sul ponticello) emphasizes higher overtones, adding a silvery, piercing edge to the sound that helps it carry to the back of a concert hall. Very effective!

Practical Application

Beginners are concerned with putting down their fingers and pulling the bow across the string.  As you advance, you will want to improve your tone.  Using overtones in practice shifts your focus from "where do I put my finger?" to "how does the instrument respond?"  You are working with the natural physics of the instrument to produce the biggest sound with the least amount of physical effort.

Overtones will help you refine your ear, improve your intonation, and unlock your instrument’s resonance.  Try some of these and listen for overtones.

·       If you have access to a piano, strike an A loudly and hold the key down.   

·       Play a two-octave scale using an open string as a drone.  No vibrato.

·       Play a two-octave scale in perfect fifths by placing each finger across two strings. No vibrato.

·       Minute bow – see if you can play a single note, evenly, for 60 seconds on one bow.  If 60 is too difficult, start at 30 and work your way up.

·       Play a minute bow note close to the bridge, then further away.  Experiment to find your ideal contact point for the style and clarity you seek. Listen for the overtones helping your tone.

·       Discuss what you’ve learned from this article and these exercises with your teacher.

Looking Forward

Mastering violin is a lifetime journey.  You will always work on improving your skills, your tone, your technique.  Understanding and listening for overtones will help you produce a fuller, richer sound, add greater core, projection, and warmth to your sound.  Doing a few of these exercises will immediately improve your pitch.  Even though your eyes may rely on finger tapes, your ears will find each note on the fingerboard.  You may’ve heard your teacher tell you, “Listen for the ring”, or “Center each pitch”, and understanding overtones will help you achieve this.  If you’re a new player, you will soon say goodbye to mechanical finger placement and hello to a more mature sound.  Advanced students will improve their sound and their pitch.