Sinusoids · Fourier analysis

Harmonic builder

Summing sinusoids at whole-number multiples of a fundamental converges on a square, sawtooth or triangle wave as harmonics are added, while the pitch stays at the fundamental.

Taught in Sines & Spectra.

Choose a target waveform and slide the number of harmonics from 1 to 24; the partial Fourier sum sharpens toward the dashed target, with Gibbs overshoot at the edges. The same partial sum plays at a 110 Hz fundamental so the timbre change is audible.

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