Harmonics

Harmonics

"Pure" tone is quite rare. Except for sounds from electronic devices or tuning forks, instruments have a composite tone, the result of vibrations created above or below a principal tone. As difficult as this sounds, really all it means is that there is always more than one note actually going on when an instrument is played. But our ears usually only hear one, for the overtones (or undertones) are often beyond audible range. [AW] {MI}