Natural tones
The notes of the harmonic series playable on a valveless wind instrument.
What it means
Natural tones are the notes of the harmonic series that can be played on a wind instrument without valves, keys or finger holes, for example natural trumpet, natural horn, alphorn or trombone without moving the slide. The player selects them only through lip tension and air control; the length of the tube stays the same.
The series begins with the fundamental, the octave, the fifth above it, the second octave and the third. In the upper range the notes lie closer together, so that more notes can be played and the natural tones form a scale.
Musical use
Before the invention of valves in the early 19th century, natural tones were the only notes of trumpet and horn. That is why fanfares and signals consist of few notes, mostly broken triads. Some natural tones, above all the seventh, eleventh and thirteenth, sound out of tune compared with equal temperament and must be corrected by the player or used deliberately.
Natural tones should be distinguished from overtones in general, which sound within every tone, and from the natural scale, which presents the notes of the series in ordered sequence as a scale.
Performance practice
Practise natural tones with lip slurs: from the fundamental play the octave, fifth and higher without changing the fingering position. Listen for the purity of the notes and correct through fine lip and breath tension.