Why Do Harmonics Change the Sound of a Note?

Name: Same 220 Hz Note. Why Does One Sound Brighter?
Uploaded: 2026-11-09T23:00:04-08:00
Duration: 30 s
Description: Listen to two versions of a 220 Hz note. Which one sounds brighter?

Listen to two versions of a 220 Hz note. Which one sounds brighter?

Sample A contains a single 220 Hz tone. Sample B keeps that fundamental and adds harmonics at 440 and 660 Hz. Listen for a change in tone colour while the base pitch stays the same.

The samples are matched in average signal level. They may still sound different in loudness.

Read the listening cues

0:03. Hear the 220 Hz tone by itself.
0:08. Hear the same fundamental with two upper harmonics.
0:20. Listen for the change in tone colour.

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Try the next test: what happens when the fundamental is removed?