Overtones…trying to understand
May be a novice question, but I am trying to understand what guitar overtones are. Since I am not academically inclined I am not too interested in actual frequency formulas which I’ve found searching this subject, but rather a simple explanation of what overtones sound like when chords and notes are played. (Maybe a link with examples?)
I’ve never been too good at using commonly accepted descriptive terms in describing the sound of my guitars and in reading many reviews the term “overtones” (whether good or bad) seems to pop up. I think I have a handle on the harmonics (such as used in tuning or Steve Howe’s beginning of Roundabout) but how does it apply to chords?
It seems from what I’ve found is that overtones can be a good thing or a bad thing depending on the listener. I just want to understand a little better when someone describes a guitar as having “wonderful overtones” or “muddy overtones” or "... overtones".
I’ve noticed lately that when I sneeze and my Guild DV is sitting close to me, the strings ring in a chime-like fashion (I do sneeze loudly due to a medical issue that requires me to “not hold back”, LOL). In fact, when I first started noticing this while in my basement I thought the doorbell upstairs was ringing. Have not noticed this at all with my Larrivée jumbo. Could this be related to overtones or something entirely different, ex.: strings, top vibration, etc.?
May be a novice question, but I am trying to understand what guitar overtones are. Since I am not academically inclined I am not too interested in actual frequency formulas which I’ve found searching this subject, but rather a simple explanation of what overtones sound like when chords and notes are played. (Maybe a link with examples?)
I’ve never been too good at using commonly accepted descriptive terms in describing the sound of my guitars and in reading many reviews the term “overtones” (whether good or bad) seems to pop up. I think I have a handle on the harmonics (such as used in tuning or Steve Howe’s beginning of Roundabout) but how does it apply to chords?
It seems from what I’ve found is that overtones can be a good thing or a bad thing depending on the listener. I just want to understand a little better when someone describes a guitar as having “wonderful overtones” or “muddy overtones” or "... overtones".
I’ve noticed lately that when I sneeze and my Guild DV is sitting close to me, the strings ring in a chime-like fashion (I do sneeze loudly due to a medical issue that requires me to “not hold back”, LOL). In fact, when I first started noticing this while in my basement I thought the doorbell upstairs was ringing. Have not noticed this at all with my Larrivée jumbo. Could this be related to overtones or something entirely different, ex.: strings, top vibration, etc.?