What is the Difference Between Overtone and Harmonic?

The difference between overtones and harmonics lies in the relationship between their frequencies and the fundamental frequency of a sound. Both overtones and harmonics are resonant frequencies produced by a vibrating system, such as a musical instrument, and contribute to the distinct sound of the instrument.

• Overtone: An overtone is any higher-frequency standing wave that is produced by a vibrating system. All resonant frequencies above the fundamental frequency are considered overtones. Overtones can take any value of the fundamental frequency and are also called partials.
• Harmonic: A harmonic is a specific type of overtone that is an integral multiple of the fundamental frequency. In other words, the frequencies of the harmonics are exactly integer multiples of the fundamental frequency. Harmonics are also stationary waves, while not all overtones are stationary waves.

In summary, all harmonics are overtones, but not all overtones are harmonics. The term "overtone" is generally applied to any higher-frequency standing wave, while the term "harmonic" is reserved for those cases in which the frequencies of the overtones are integral multiples of the frequency of the fundamental.

Comparative Table: Overtone vs Harmonic

The main difference between overtones and harmonics lies in their frequency relationships and their presence in vibrations. Here is a table comparing the two:

In summary, harmonics are overtones whose frequencies are integral multiples of the fundamental frequency, while overtones are higher-frequency standing waves that are not necessarily integral multiples of the fundamental frequency. All overtones are always present in the vibration, whereas harmonics' presence varies depending on the vibration.