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presents
Keys
to unlock the secrets
of the harmonic series
and overtone singing
From the perspective of the harmonic series music is the language of integers
- its atoms and molecules are primes and compounds of primes
One winding of the octave spiral corresponds to one octave we return to the same quality on a
new pitch level:
1-2-4-8-16-... are octaves of the fundamental. 3-6-12-... are octaves of the perfect fifth.
5-10-... are octaves of the just major third. Etc.
The correspondences between tone, body resonance and phonetics should not be interpreted too
rigidly! In this example the harmonic series springs forth from a deep G but naturally any tone in any
pitch will carry the harmonic series with it. What is invariable is the sequence of intervals between the
elements the simple integer relations of time and space (frequency and wavelength).
The body is a very complex resonance system, so you may also find resonance for deep tones high up in
the body and conversely. But generally: Deep tones ~ 'down', high tones ~ 'up', as indicated intuitively in
the language.
The vowel sounds can be generated artificially by a compound of two or three frequencies but by overtone
singing you may accentuate elements from the harmonic series by shaping the vocal tract to positions
similar to vowel pronunciation. Please notice again that the correlation is not absolute: You may be able to
accentuate the harmonics with different vowel qualities depending om voice type, pitch etc.
Generally the lower elements of the harmonic series are accentuated at the same regions of the vocal tract as
the rounded back vowels, whereas the higher elements correspond with the front vowels.
To accentuate distinct overtones demands mastery of the tongue as a precision instrument.
The integers indicate multiples of the frequency of the vocal folds.
Please bear in mind that overtone singing technique is not limited to the vocal tract. A complex interaction
between abdomen, chest and throat musculature, breathing and body posture is essential.
English is missing the term 'klang' which in German and Scandinavian languages indicates the quality
aspect of any sound - which may be conceived as the sum of its overtones.
Overtone singing forms a unity of three very fundamental fields of knowledge essential to
consciousness as such.
Tone is making a braid out of time (frequency) and space (wawelength) according to the formula for the
correlation between the two aspects: f x = c
Here f is the frequency of the tone, is its wawelength and c is the constant of velocity of sound wawes
in air at about 20oC ~ 340 m/s