 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: johnhcl
Date: 2014-04-24 02:17
I have a question... I've never been told and it hasn't really been explained that well to me... but what is a partial? What does it mean when someone says 'first partial'? Hope this isn't a dumb question... Thanks, appreciate the help!
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2014-04-24 05:40
Think of a string of a given length tied taught between two posts. Strummed it produces a note, also known as its fundamental. If you place a finger at the center of the string so that only half of it vibrates, you get a note which is one octave higher or the first over tone or partial. Subsequent divisions give you another octave, a fifth, a major third etc. Listening carefully to any given produced note, you may be able to hear these partials within the fundamental sound. This is the fundamental principle that underlies the playing of brass instruments.
I need to correct myself. The first partial IS the fundamental, and the series is as follows: octave, fifth, fourth, major third, minor third, minor third, major second.
When referring to OVERTONES, all apply EXCEPT the fundamental (or first partial).
..............Paul Aviles
Post Edited (2014-04-24 10:33)
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Author: William
Date: 2014-04-24 18:54
Those partials exist in every note you play and the difference in the strengths gives each instrument its characteristic tone quality. That is how the synthesizer is able to reproduce the sounds of a variety of different instruments.
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Author: Lelia Loban ★2017
Date: 2014-04-24 21:26
>Hope this isn't a dumb question... >
It's an intelligent question. I don't think there's any such thing as a dumb question anyway. Figuring out that you need to ask about something gets you off to a smart start.
Lelia
http://www.scoreexchange.com/profiles/Lelia_Loban
To hear the audio, click on the "Scorch Plug-In" box above the score.
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Author: wkleung
Date: 2014-04-24 22:02
Partial is another name for harmonic or overtone. Hope this helps!
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Author: kdk
Date: 2014-04-25 02:01
Except, I believe, the 1st partial is the fundamental. The 1st harmonic (an octave above the fundamental) is the 2nd partial.
Karl
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2014-04-25 05:08
I was always under the impression partials (or higher partials) are the overtones present that give the specific timbre of the instrument depending on how strong or weak they are in relation to one another.
As for harmonics, the fundamental is the 1st, the 8ve above that is the 2nd, the 12th above that is the 3rd, the 15th is the 4th, etc.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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