subharmonic
Below the fundamental
A subharmonic is a frequency that is a fraction of a fundamental frequency—typically half, a third, or another whole-number divisor.
Where harmonics multiply the base frequency upward, subharmonics divide it downward.
The term appears in acoustics, music synthesis, and signal processing: The bass pedal produces subharmonics an octave below the played note.
In vocal techniques like Tuvan throat singing, singers can produce subharmonic tones below their normal range.
Subdued background quality
- fundamentalForming the base
- partialsIncomplete sets or components
- low-frequencyOccurring seldom or rarely
- rumbleLow rolling sound
drone · infrasound · pitch · timbre · tone color · resonance · spectrum · amplitude
Rate of recurrence
- fundamentalForming the base
- divisionSplitting into parts
- wavelengthSpatial repetition interval
- oscillationRepeated back-and-forth movement
vibration · standing wave · node · antinode · superposition · interference · resonant frequency · period
Deep pitch or fish
- droneUnmanned flying machine
- organBody's working component
- didgeridooAustralian Aboriginal wind instrument
- throat singingVocal technique producing simultaneous pitches
octave · interval · fifth · chord · root note · fundamental · low register · contrabass
undertone
Subdued background quality
- fundamentalForming the base
- partialsIncomplete sets or components
- low-frequencyOccurring seldom or rarely
rumble · drone · infrasound · pitch · timbre · tone color · resonance · spectrum · amplitude · envelope
frequency
Rate of recurrence
- fundamentalForming the base
- divisionSplitting into parts
- wavelengthSpatial repetition interval
oscillation · vibration · standing wave · node · antinode · superposition · interference · resonant frequency · period · amplitude
bass
Deep pitch or fish
- droneUnmanned flying machine
- organBody's working component
- didgeridooAustralian Aboriginal wind instrument
throat singing · octave · interval · fifth · chord · root note · fundamental · low register · contrabass · sub-bass
synthesizer
Electronic sound-generating instrument
- oscillatorCyclic signal generator
- waveformGraphed oscillation pattern
- modulationVarying signals to transmit
LFO · filter · bass · 808 · sub-bass · analog · digital · patch · carrier · distortion
harm, harmony, harmonica, disharmony, harmonic, harmonium, harmonics, disharmonic