Craft · 6 pages · 12 min

Why brass instruments are built on the harmonic series

One length of tube offers the notes of a single harmonic series, and valves or a slide move the player among a few such series.

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From the opening

A tube of one length strongly supports a fundamental and its whole-number multiples, the harmonic series, rather than every pitch in between. Brass instruments are built on that fact: the lip selects a partial, and valves or a slide change the length so another series is available. The opening covers one length gives one series, the lip selects the partial, and valves add neighboring series.

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Inside

One length gives one series
The lip selects the partial
Valves add neighboring series
Low partials leave wide gaps
Where the idea stops applying
A distinction worth keeping

Sources

Harmonic series of an air column
Valved brass as overlapping series

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Why brass instruments are built on the harmonic series

From the opening

Inside

Sources

Also on the desk