How Does the Overtone Series Affect Me?
On this page we will break down the affects the Overtone Series has on your instrument. Scroll down the page until you find your instrument, and read away!
Trumpet, Euphonium TC, and F Horn
To utilize the partial system to help understand intonation issues on these instruments, we first need to review the pitch tendencies of some valve combinations.
In-tune valve combinations are: open, 1, 2,
Moderately Flat: 23
Slightly Sharp: 12
Moderately Sharp: 13
Very Sharp: 123
Any note played with a fingering that has a tendency to be sharp or flat will have that effect on the note being played, but we need to also take into account the pitch tendency of the partial.
The chart below outlines the notes you can play from the first partial (the fundamental) up to the 12th Partial, and their pitch tendencies. Please note that this Overtone Tuning Chart does not take in to account players over squeezing in their upper range, excessive pressure, or tension while playing.
Note for French Horn: this chart does not list Bb Horn fingerings. That chart is farther down this page.
In-tune valve combinations are: open, 1, 2,
Moderately Flat: 23
Slightly Sharp: 12
Moderately Sharp: 13
Very Sharp: 123
Any note played with a fingering that has a tendency to be sharp or flat will have that effect on the note being played, but we need to also take into account the pitch tendency of the partial.
The chart below outlines the notes you can play from the first partial (the fundamental) up to the 12th Partial, and their pitch tendencies. Please note that this Overtone Tuning Chart does not take in to account players over squeezing in their upper range, excessive pressure, or tension while playing.
Note for French Horn: this chart does not list Bb Horn fingerings. That chart is farther down this page.
Trombone, Tuba, Baritone B.C.
To utilize the partial system to help understand intonation issues on these instruments, we first need to review the pitch tendencies of some valve combinations.
In-tune valve combinations are: open, 1, 2, (slide positions 1, 2, 3)
Moderately Flat: 23 (slide position 5)
Slightly Sharp: 12 (slide position 4)
Moderately Sharp: 13 (slide position 6)
Very Sharp: 123 (slide position 7)
Any note played with a fingering that has a tendency to be sharp or flat will have that effect on the note being played, but we need to also take into account the pitch tendency of the partial.
The chart below outlines the notes you can play from the first partial (the fundamental) up to the 12th Partial, and its pitch tendencies. The fingerings across the bottom of the chart correspond to tuba and baritone fingerings. The positions across the top of the chart correspond to the trombone positions.
In-tune valve combinations are: open, 1, 2, (slide positions 1, 2, 3)
Moderately Flat: 23 (slide position 5)
Slightly Sharp: 12 (slide position 4)
Moderately Sharp: 13 (slide position 6)
Very Sharp: 123 (slide position 7)
Any note played with a fingering that has a tendency to be sharp or flat will have that effect on the note being played, but we need to also take into account the pitch tendency of the partial.
The chart below outlines the notes you can play from the first partial (the fundamental) up to the 12th Partial, and its pitch tendencies. The fingerings across the bottom of the chart correspond to tuba and baritone fingerings. The positions across the top of the chart correspond to the trombone positions.
French Horn (The Bb Side)
Here is a chart for the Bb side of the French Horn. If you horn has a trigger, this is the chart that you can use to check tuning tendencies with the trigger.
Clarinets! Your Time Has Come!
Have you ever wondered why the register key on clarinet isn't an octave key? Why does it jump up a 12th when you put down the register key? And what's the deal with the Altissimo register?
Here come the answers: Overtone Series!!!
If you have problems memorizing your fingerings, this section will help!
Here come the answers: Overtone Series!!!
If you have problems memorizing your fingerings, this section will help!
Clarinet Chalumeau Register
One interesting thing about clarinet, is that it utilizes 19 fundamentals: meaning that a clarinet could potentially have 19 separate Overtone Series. Brass instruments only use 7 separate overtone series, to play their entire range.
The interesting part about clarinet and the Overtone series, is that clarinets only use the odd partials: mainly 1(fundamentals) 3, and 5.
The lowest 19 notes on clarinet are the 19 fundamentals utilized by clarinet. This set of 19 notes is called the chalumeau register.
The interesting part about clarinet and the Overtone series, is that clarinets only use the odd partials: mainly 1(fundamentals) 3, and 5.
The lowest 19 notes on clarinet are the 19 fundamentals utilized by clarinet. This set of 19 notes is called the chalumeau register.
Your first step is to memorize the fingerings to these 19 notes. If you do that, the rest of the notes are a breeze!
The Clarion Register (3rd Partial of the Overtone Series)
The next register is called the Clarion register. These notes utilize the first 14 fingerings from the Chalumeau register with the register key.
In the picture below, I have the first 14 notes of the Chalumeau register (the fundamentals,) the 2nd partial above each fundamental note (remember the notes of the 2nd partial are not used on clarinet,) and then the 3rd partial above that. Those notes on top are the same fingerings as the fundamentals below them, with the addition of the register key.
In the picture below, I have the first 14 notes of the Chalumeau register (the fundamentals,) the 2nd partial above each fundamental note (remember the notes of the 2nd partial are not used on clarinet,) and then the 3rd partial above that. Those notes on top are the same fingerings as the fundamentals below them, with the addition of the register key.
The Altissimo Register (5th partial of the Overtone Series)
The Altissimo register will also utilize fingerings from the Chalumeau register, by simply using the register key and taking off the index finger of the left hand.
Here are the Altissimo notes above their 4th Partial, 2nd Partial and fundamental. (Remember: clarinets only use the odd numbered partials so the 2nd and 4th partials that are notated are only there for reference.)
Here are the Altissimo notes above their 4th Partial, 2nd Partial and fundamental. (Remember: clarinets only use the odd numbered partials so the 2nd and 4th partials that are notated are only there for reference.)
See, no problem! All the way up to fourth ledger line G! It's that easy!...
Flute!!!
Similar to Clarinet, the flute also utilizes its fundamentals as its lower octave fingerings.
Here is a guide to memorizing the correct fingerings all the way up to high C...no not that high C, the one that sits on 5 ledger lines, high C.
The key to this guide is that the fundamentals are in the bottom staff. As you move up staves, you are moving up partials. Unlike the clarinet, the flute utilizes some notes from all of the first 6 partials. Blank spaces in the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th partials are blank because they are not recommended fingerings. While you can get the notes from those partials to play, there are other options (written in) that speak with a much better tone. Learn the fingerings for the notes written on the fundamental line, and then just make the written in adjustments (corresponding to the note above the adjustments) to execute the correct fingerings for the entire range of the flute.
Here is a guide to memorizing the correct fingerings all the way up to high C...no not that high C, the one that sits on 5 ledger lines, high C.
The key to this guide is that the fundamentals are in the bottom staff. As you move up staves, you are moving up partials. Unlike the clarinet, the flute utilizes some notes from all of the first 6 partials. Blank spaces in the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th partials are blank because they are not recommended fingerings. While you can get the notes from those partials to play, there are other options (written in) that speak with a much better tone. Learn the fingerings for the notes written on the fundamental line, and then just make the written in adjustments (corresponding to the note above the adjustments) to execute the correct fingerings for the entire range of the flute.