Part 3 · Intervals: How Notes Relate, and How to Hear Them

Example 3.8

The harmonics of A4, one by one, then together

What you hear

The first eight harmonics of A4, each a pure tone for a second, a short rest between: 440, 880, 1,320, 1,760, 2,200, 2,640, 3,080 and 3,520 Hz; then all eight together for three seconds, each harmonic softer than the one below it (the k-th at 1/k of the first)

Every example in Part 3

• Example 3.1A melodic and a harmonic interval
• Example 3.2The thirteen simple intervals above C
• Example 3.3A Major 3rd and a Major 10th
• Example 3.4An interval and its inversion
• Example 3.5The interval listening challenge
• Example 3.6From smooth to rough
• Example 3.7Tension and release
• Example 3.8The harmonics of A4, one by one, then together
• Example 3.9Where you pluck changes the sound
• Example 3.10Waves in step and out of step
• Example 3.11The 7th harmonic
• Example 3.12A pure and a tempered Major 3rd