The higher-frequency vibrations that occur naturally above a fundamental pitch, creating the characteristic timbre or tone color of different instruments and voices. These partial vibrations determine why a violin and trumpet sound different even when playing the same note.
From 'over' meaning 'above' and 'tones,' referring to the tones that sound above the fundamental frequency. The acoustic phenomenon was understood scientifically in the 19th century, though musicians had long recognized its practical importance.
Overtones are nature's built-in harmony - every single note you hear is actually a secret chord containing multiple pitches, which explains why composers like Debussy could create such rich harmonies by simply listening carefully to what was already hidden inside individual notes!
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