Editing Timbre (section)

===Harmonics===
{{Details|Fourier transform}}
[[File:Harmonic spectra theoretical x y.png|thumb|[[Harmonic spectrum]]]]

The richness of a sound or note a musical instrument produces is sometimes described in terms of a sum of a number of distinct [[frequency|frequencies]]. The lowest frequency is called the ''[[fundamental frequency]]'', and the pitch it produces is used to name the note, but the fundamental frequency is not always the dominant frequency. The dominant frequency is the frequency that is most heard, and it is always a multiple of the fundamental frequency. For example, the dominant frequency for the [[transverse flute]] is double the fundamental frequency. Other significant frequencies are called [[overtone]]s of the fundamental frequency, which may include [[harmonic]]s and [[Harmonic series (music)#Partial|partials]]. Harmonics are [[Natural number|whole number]] multiples of the fundamental frequency, such as ×2, ×3, ×4, etc. Partials are other overtones. There are also sometimes [[subharmonic]]s at whole number ''divisions'' of the fundamental frequency. Most instruments produce harmonic sounds, but many instruments produce partials and [[inharmonic]] tones, such as cymbals and other [[Percussion instrument#Indefinite pitch|indefinite-pitched]] instruments.

When the [[A440 (pitch standard)|tuning note]] in an [[orchestra]] or [[concert band]] is played, the sound is a combination of 440&nbsp;Hz, 880&nbsp;Hz, 1320&nbsp;Hz, 1760&nbsp;Hz and so on. Each instrument in the orchestra or concert band produces a different combination of these frequencies, as well as harmonics and overtones.  The sound waves of the different frequencies overlap and combine, and the balance of these amplitudes is a major factor in the characteristic sound of each instrument.

[[William Sethares]] wrote that [[just intonation]] and the western [[Equal temperament|equal tempered]] [[Scale (music)|scale]] are related to the harmonic [[spectrum|spectra]]/timbre of many western instruments in an analogous way that the inharmonic timbre of the [[Music of Thailand|Thai]] renat (a xylophone-like instrument) is related to the seven-tone near-equal tempered [[pelog]] scale in which they are tuned. Similarly, the inharmonic spectra of [[Bali]]nese metallophones combined with harmonic instruments such as the stringed [[rebab]] or the voice, are related to the five-note near-equal tempered [[slendro]] scale commonly found in Indonesian [[gamelan]] music.{{r|Sethares1998_6211318}}