Fundamental
The lowest frequency in a harmonic series, perceived as the main pitch of a note.
Category
pitch
Pronunciation
/fʌndəˈmɛntəl/
Origin
Latin (fundamentum)
Length
175 words · 1 min read
About Fundamental
The fundamental is the primary vibration that gives a musical note its perceived pitch. When a guitar string is plucked, it vibrates along its entire length to produce the fundamental, whilst simultaneously vibrating in halves, thirds, and smaller fractions to create overtones.
More pitch terms
Temperament
View all pitchterms →A tuning system that determines how the twelve pitches within an octave are spaced.
Transposing InstrumentAn instrument whose notated pitch differs from the actual sounding pitch it produces.
TuningThe process of adjusting an instrument so its pitches match a chosen reference standard.
Enharmonic EquivalentTwo notes that sound the same pitch but are written with different letter names, such as F-sharp and G-flat.
CentsA logarithmic unit that divides each semitone into 100 equal parts, used for precise measurement of pitch intervals.
Synonyms
Antonyms
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v1 · 10/04/2026Browse all terms →