Define harmonics

Guitar-Sam · Post by **Guitar-Sam** » Thu Aug 24, 2006 7:21 pm

OK what are people talking about when they refer too harmonics??.........Besides the 5th 7th and 12th fret touch harmonics.

No really though I recently got my hands on an amperex 12ax7 and noticed this blossuming high frequancie swell underlying the chords as I would brush pick chords,is that what they are refering too as harmonics??
For the most part I just listen and decide on tone and don't care what its called so it don't really matter but it would be cool to know as I hear the term every other word on these message baords I frequant.

Bainzy · Post by **Bainzy** » Thu Aug 24, 2006 7:48 pm

It's like when you slam a chord on a cranked amp, and let it ring and it starts feeding back. It should sound like extra notes are being added to the signal, but in a higher register. When people describe it as an effect like "harmonic complexity" etc, it's nowhere near as dramatic as feeding back amps but is more like an overtone you can hear in your signal that sounds nice.

Necrovore · Post by **Necrovore** » Thu Aug 24, 2006 11:34 pm

Not just higher register tones/semitones either, harmonics travel the other way as well. The lower registers that are more felt than actually heard.

yngwie308 · Post by **yngwie308** » Thu Aug 24, 2006 11:55 pm

Read my post in the Tweaking the HW thread,but how I describe the HW post George's mods,is similar to what you are describing here.
Rich harmonic complexity,touch sensitivity,without a tube rectifier!
Most guitars are not chromatically tuned,so some chordal (outoftuneness),if you know what I mean.
I am hearing so much richness,now with the Marshall.
Dave

Billy Batz · Post by **Billy Batz** » Fri Aug 25, 2006 6:58 am

When I hit the low E I want to hear more then just a rubber band vibrating. I want to hear a complex sound full of harmonix. Some amps are so good that way it literally sounds like theres chorus on the sound even tho theres not.

NitroLiq · Post by **NitroLiq** » Fri Aug 25, 2006 9:59 am

This might help you out with understanding fundamental frequency and harmonics:

http://ccms.ntu.edu.tw/~karchung/phonet ... 0eight.htm

Guitar-Sam · Post by **Guitar-Sam** » Fri Aug 25, 2006 12:04 pm

So basically like what I said the BB ax7 seemed to have a blossuming high frequancie swell undertone.And like RFT ax7s give a normal E chord a "roar from the depths of hell".And kinna like how certain notes as they are feedback will not just feedback monotonely but grow into a 3d sound.
So that in a sense is what harmonics are??

I'm one of those backyard(woodshed??)guys that after you explain the mixolydian mode to me for three hours I realize its something I kinna allready know just call it something like the Dickey Betts scale or something.LOL
Kinna like chords any sus,7th,11th,187th etc...is just plainly a "Three dollar chord" to me.

tonejones · Post by **tonejones** » Fri Aug 25, 2006 2:03 pm

Nice link Nitro........

Harmonics are just what they were saying....multiples of a notes frequency......

Take the 440hz tuning tone for example...you can get harmonics at 880, 1320 and so on........

Some of the freaky stuff happens when they combine for other notes like Necrovore was talking about....

For example only, 440 can produce a 100hz tone and a 340hz tone (I believe known as partials).......

IIRC I think this follows the overtone series, or maybe not (is kinda fuzzy)

Ever notice you can play a high E on some acoustics and the 5th string A will start vibrating?????

Is very wild stuff!!!!!!

While in school there was a very quick section of a course about harmonics, but most of it's dissappeared from my memory by now.....

The guy teaching the course was a trip.....has a honorary Ph.D. in composing.....from writing an atonal opera on the subject of Frankenstein!!!!

Mad Scientist....

BOO!!!!!!

Short, blond square faced guy, played viola....we all called him Udi because all he needed was 'Accept' behind him and some camoflage pants!!!!!!

Guitar-Sam · Post by **Guitar-Sam** » Fri Aug 25, 2006 5:14 pm

OK I get the 440,880 etc...thing now.
But when you here guys on these boards talking about how a certain tube or amp is loaded with harmonics is that what I'm hearing?? When I say a RFT has a"Depths of hell"roar or a BB has a high frequancie swell underlying the original note?

I'm cornfuzled?? I asked this at the PP boards but I think they think I'm a tard.

Necrovore · Post by **Necrovore** » Fri Aug 25, 2006 11:44 pm

They think you are a tard because they have just not been able to appraise harmonics in the vintage market.

And yes to your other two questions and "don't be" to your cornfuzled. You understand enough to ask to reaffirm yourself from this question.

"But when you here guys on these boards talking about how a certain tube or amp is loaded with harmonics is that what I'm hearing?? When I say a RFT has a"Depths of hell"roar or a BB has a high frequancie swell underlying the original note? "

Short and simple theory is to think about harmonics in that they are the tones, semitones, and partial tones that surround your root note (A=440 for example) when played on a guitar make it musical. Otherwise you are playing a sine wave, which is pretty freaking boring unless you are playing Mad Scientist role while you have your amp on the workbench and running it through an oscilloscope.

Guitar-Sam · Post by **Guitar-Sam** » Sat Aug 26, 2006 3:16 am

So in other words I should just keep swappin tubes and playing amps and LISTENING and not worry about the theory behind it.

I allways kinna thought it was term for when a tube/amp setup had a certain charecter or something.I've tried a ton of pre's and each one is differant and I was like...............WTF is this "harmonics" thing I hear about so often.

NitroLiq · Post by **NitroLiq** » Sat Aug 26, 2006 10:20 am

Necrovore wrote:Otherwise you are playing a sine wave, which is pretty freaking boring unless you are playing Mad Scientist role while you have your amp on the workbench and running it through an oscilloscope.

..Or programming Reggae Dub or classic Jungle (DnB) music. I used to always use sine waves for my sub-basses...either that, or an 808 kick sample.