John Pettreemusic
John Pettreemusic
@john-petry
3 weeks ago
78 posts

Kinda like coffee me thinks... Sometimes bold with hints of chocolate or cinnamon....Or bland without any flavor.. All subject to the ear of the listener. Perhaps sometimes so many flavors it just tastes "off"...

I don't think I've heard a dulcimer yet, that didn't sound sweet.....

So the term "overtone" as it relates to dulcimers, just means perhaps you're thinking too much......Or you're building one out of an old toaster and a bundt pan ..... 

Nate
Nate
@nate
3 weeks ago
437 posts

Straight forward, yet ambiguous. Does a presence of many overtones make an instrument sound

More "clear" or "full"

More "nasal" or "broad"

More "refined" or "ambiguous"

More "bright" or "warm"

All the words convey opposite meanings, but "overtones" are used to describe both.

On the dulcimer, what does the term "overtone" say about the tone?


updated by @nate: 09/18/25 05:41:08PM