[jsenn]

Is the drone of a fan harmonic? I would’ve thought it’s more like a repetition pitch so its overtones would not be harmonic and would not exhibit a missing fundamental.

Agree with the broader point, just curious if there’s some interesting physics that creates a harmonic sound.

[munificent]

> Is the drone of a fan harmonic?

Overtones are about timbre, not harmony. The fan isn't playing a chord (well, probably not). But the tone the fan plays isn't a pure sine wave either. It will have overtones that are integer multiples of the fundamental that give it its characteristic sound.

It's the same reason that a flute and saxophone can play the same note but sound different. The fundamental is the same, but the amplitudes of the overtones are different.

[jsenn]

> It will have overtones that are integer multiples of the fundamental that give it its characteristic sound.

What I’m wondering is why would the overtones go in integer multiples (I.e. be harmonic) for a fan? A flute and a saxophone have harmonic(ish) overtones because of the physics of a vibrating column of air

[IAmBroom]

The nature of the full spectral sound is not really the point.

Where is the majority of the energy? Probably in the harmonics. Remove them, and you've severely reduced the noise.

How to do this, is the problem.

[eth0up]

Please downvote this comment. But I had to say thanks for this. It's one of the litte glistening ornaments on the perennial HN xmas tree. Good thread (and post) altogether.