Overtone Harmonics

We hear sound as a whole experience, body, mind and spirit. When a note or tone is sounded, either instrumentally or vocally, we hear more than the fundamental note.
Overtones, or harmonics are a series of barely audible tones that originate from the fundamental note, creating harmonies.
The word ‘harmony’ was originally defined as a tension of opposites creating a whole. What would that sound like? If you were to strike a key on the piano to create a sound, a string would vibrate. If you looked closely, you would see that the tension causes other strings to resonate in harmony to the original string.
The complementary strings follow a pattern called the ‘harmonic series’ which was originally discovered by Pythagoras. The harmonic series, also known as the golden mean, follows mathematical proportions that can be found in the structures of all life; in sound, music, the human body, planetary orbits, in the sacred architecture of Egypt, Rome and Athens to the way in which leaves are spaced on a tree. Harmony represents the innate perfection at the very core of life.
An overtone defines the depth, timbre (acoustic quality) and colour of a sound. It is like when light passes through a prism or crystal and what is reflected on the surface is a beautiful rainbow.
The beauty of overtones is noticeable when you hear two voices singing the same tone. The same frequency will sound different because each singer’s overtone structure will be unique to them. It is like a genetic blueprint, a voiceprint which can be heard even when we are speaking.
The human body is a resonating chamber waiting to be sung. A singer can develop their overtones with a variety of techniques such as sustained toning, adjusting the shape of the vocal chamber and placement of the sound in the head or throat.

Benefits of Overtones
~ Gives the body an internal sound massage
~ Harmonizes body, mind and spirit
~ Develops a fuller more resonate presentation voice
~ Gives us an opportunity to surrender to the sublime bliss of sound
Overtones are a wonderful way to make your sound more resonant.
~ Sonic Blissings, Anoushka

© 2004 Anny Fyreagle