Harmony theory: Overtones

[bbbbass]

In an attempt to study harmony, I have early on become confused. To my understanding, a single note is comprised of overtones. For example, the overtones of "c" are c, g, c, e, etc. Is this true? If it is, than chord construction has a scientific explanation. Anyways, HELP!

[airborne50caliber]

I have always understood that there a scientific explanation for the fact that correct harmonies sound good to any ear, something to do with the overtones being generated by each note, but beyond that and I'll be speaking out of my *** so I'll stop here.

[Chameleon]

Well as far as I understand, overtones of infinite octaves are generated with each note? Ie if you play a C, you get C's an octave up and down forever...

I don't really know what other overtones are produced with a note though, except I believe perfect 5ths are. When I was taught to play the timpani, when you were tuning two drums a 5th apart, you could check if they were in tune with each other by playing one hard, dampening it quickly and listening to see how strong the other would ring out. If it rings quite clearly (yet still quietly, obviously) it's in tune. That has something to do with the overtones of notes...

[miku]

Well as far as I understand, overtones of infinite octaves are generated with each note? Ie if you play a C, you get C's an octave up and down forever...
Not down.I don't really know what other overtones are produced with a note though, except I believe perfect 5ths are. When I was taught to play the timpani, when you were tuning two drums a 5th apart, you could check if they were in tune with each other by playing one hard, dampening it quickly and listening to see how strong the other would ring out. If it rings quite clearly (yet still quietly, obviously) it's in tune. That has something to do with the overtones of notes...
If they're in tune, then the 2nd overtone of your first drum would be the same as the 1st overtone of the second drum. So yeah, that's why. It therefore resonates sympathetically.

The series of overtones is just like, for instance a piano string would resonate in also halves, thirds, fourths, fifths, and so forth. So the first few ones for C would be the C above it, G, C again, then something close to an E, G, something close to a Bb, C again, and so forth.

[Chameleon]

Ah, sympathetically, that was what my teacher used to say!! .....I paid attention.....sometimes ...

[gaslight]

Yeah, everything to do with the Western Music theory system has a scientific explanation.

What are you are talking about is to do with the Harmonic Series, which recognises that every fundamental note has partials or "overtones" generated within it.

The easiest way to see this stuff in action is to play the harmonics of an open string on your guitar or bass.

[Dr. Jake Destructo]

So the 1st overtone of say, an E on your 6 string would be..a B? After that, would you add another 5th, or what?

[miku]

So the 1st overtone of say, an E on your 6 string would be..a B? After that, would you add another 5th, or what?
Like I said, the first overtone (or 2nd harmonic) is an octave above. The second is a fifth higher, and the 3rd is two octaves above the fundamental. For E, it would be E, E, B, E, etc.