[ <- Back ]

Complex Periodic Waveforms

This example shows five harmonically related sine waves and their sum (composite waveform). Click on the play button for each partial. Now examine the composite waveform. Where does it's waveform repeat? Examine the fundamental's waveform. Where does it repeat? Examine the waveforms of the other partials.

Dodge/Jerse says: "One theory postulates that our hearing mechanism traces with time the pattern of repetition of the waveform to determine the period of the waveform."

How I created this example.

Example adapted from Dodge, Charles and Thomas A. Jerse. Computer Music: Synthesis, Composition and Performance, 2nd edition ( New York: Schirmer, 1997) 35-36.

N.B. A fade out has been added to each of the 6 sound files (5 partials and composite tone) using Flash.