Cello: Natural Harmonics — Ex. 5, Dividing the String in Sixths
Cello: Natural Harmonics — Example 5, Dividing the String in Sixths
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.”
-
“Lightly touching the string 1/6 of its length from the bridge forces the string to vibrate in 6 sections, each 1/6 of the total string length. The sound produced is 6 times the frequency of the open string, the 6th partial, sounding 2 octaves and a perfect fifth higher than the open string. The 6th partial sounds an octave higher than the 3rd partial.”
-
“Lightly touching the string 2/6 of its length from the bridge is the same as touching at 1/3 the strength length, sounding the 3rd partial. There is no 6th partial sounding at 2/6 the string's length.”
-
“Lightly touching the string 3/6 of its length from the bridge is the same as touching at half the strength length, sounding the 2nd partial. There is no 6th partial sounding at 3/6 the string's length.”
-
“Lightly touching the string 4/6 of its length from the bridge is the same as touching at 1/3 the strength length, sounding the 3rd partial. There is no 6th partial sounding at 4/6 the string's length.”
-
“Lightly touching the string 5/6 of its length from the bridge forces the string to vibrate in 6 sections, each 1/6 of the total string length. The sound produced is 6 times the frequency of the open string, the 6th partial, sounding 2 octaves and a perfect fifth higher than the open string.”
-
“Pressing down in this same place allows only 5/6 of the string to vibrate. Since this length is 5 times that of the 6th partial, it sounds 2 octaves and a major third lower than the 5th partial, a minor third higher than the open string.”