What are 'harmonics' in music?

Harmonics in music refer to the frequencies that are integer multiples of a fundamental frequency. This concept is vital for understanding how different sounds are produced and perceived. When a musical note is played, it doesn’t produce a pure tone; instead, it generates a fundamental frequency along with additional frequencies that are harmonics. These harmonics combine with the fundamental frequency to create the overall timbre of the sound, giving it a distinct character or color that allows us to differentiate between various instruments or voices even when they play the same note.

The presence of harmonics is crucial in music because they enrich the sound, adding depth and complexity. For instance, when you strum a guitar string, not only do you hear the primary pitch, but you also hear a blend of other pitches that contribute to the unique sound of the guitar, making it different from other instruments.

In contrast, the other options delve into different musical concepts but do not accurately define harmonics. Irregular rhythms relate to rhythm rather than frequency, multiple genres pertain to styles of music, and notes played in succession describe melodies or sequences rather than the frequency relationships inherent in harmonics.