Pitched musical instruments are often based on an acoustic resonator such as a string or a column of air, which oscillates at numerous modes simultaneously. As waves travel in both directions along the string or air column, they reinforce and cancel one another to form standing waves. Interaction with the surrounding air produces audible sound waves, which travel away from the instrument. These frequencies are generally integer multiples, or harmonics, of the fundamental and such multiples form the harmonic series.
pitched musical instruments are often based on an acoustic resonator such as a string or a column of air which oscillates at numerous modes simultaneously as waves travel in both directions along the string or air column they reinforce and cancel one another to form standing waves interaction with the surrounding air produces audible sound waves which travel away from the instrument these frequencies are generally integer multiples or harmonics of the fundamental and such multiples form the harmonic series