Grundtonen

Grundtonen refers to the fundamental tone in acoustics and music theory—the lowest frequency component of a musical sound. In a periodic waveform, the fundamental frequency (often denoted f0) largely determines the perceived pitch, while higher-frequency components, called overtones or harmonics, occur at integer multiples of the fundamental and contribute to the tone’s timbre or color.

The presence and strength of grundtonen can vary between instruments and sounds. Some sources emphasize a strong fundamental, while others reveal rich overtone content with a weaker or even absent fundamental in the spectrum. In certain perceptual situations, listeners still perceive the pitch corresponding to the missing fundamental, a phenomenon known as the missing fundamental.

Physically, the grundtonen is determined by the vibrating system. For strings, f0 depends on length, tension, and mass per unit length. For air-column instruments, f0 is set by the effective length and bore geometry, influenced by the speed of sound in air. In musical practice, tunings and temperaments arrange grundtonen across pitches so that their intervals align with desired musical systems; equal temperament, for example, divides the octave into 12 equal steps while preserving the harmonic relationships that underlie pitch perception.

Understanding grundtonen is essential in acoustics, instrument design, and performance, because it anchors the pitch that listeners perceive, while the overtones define the distinctive sound of each instrument.