Apple Final Cut Pro 6 - Manual (Page 806)

Chapter 1 Audio Fundamentals 21
I
Musical sounds typically have a regular frequency, which the human ear hears as the
sound’s pitch. Pitch is expressed using musical notes, such as C, E flat, and F sharp. The
pitch is usually only the lowest, strongest part of the sound wave, called the fundamental
frequency. Every musical sound also has higher, softer parts called overtones or harmonics,
which occur at regular multiples of the fundamental frequency. The human ear doesn’t
hear the harmonics as distinct pitches, but rather as the tone color (also called the timbre)
of the sound, which allows the ear to distinguish one instrument or voice from another,
even when both are playing the same pitch.
Fundamental
First harmonic
Second harmonic
Time
Time
Time