Cello: Natural Harmonics — Ex. 3, Dividing the String in Quarters
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Cello: Natural Harmonics — Example 3, Dividing the String in Quarters
All the pitches in this section are played on the G string.
“Open string: The entire length of the string from nut to bridge is allowed to vibrate freely.” [0:40–0:46]
“Lightly touching the string 1/4 of its length from the bridge forces the string to vibrate in 4 sections, each 1/4 of the total string length. The sound produced is 4 times the frequency of the open string, the 4th partial, sounding 2 octaves higher than the open string.The 4th partial sounds an octave higher than the 2nd partial.” [0:46–0:51]
“Lightly touching the string 2/4 of its length from the bridge is the same as touching at half the strength length, sounding the 2nd partial. There is no 4th partial sounding at 2/4 the string's length.” [0:51–0:55]
“Lightly touching the string 3/4 of its length from the bridge forces the string to vibrate in 4 sections, each 1/4 of the total string length. The sound produced is 4 times the frequency of the open string, the 4th partial, sounding 2 octaves higher than the open string.” [0:55–0:60]
“Pressing down in this same place allows only 3/4 of the string to vibrate. Since this length is 3 times that of the 4th partial, it sounds an octave and a fifth lower than the 4th partial, a perfect fourth above the open string.” [0:60–0:67]