“Amazing Grace” with Overtones

• Jerse
  March 22nd, 2008 at 4:21 pm

  The look at the end was like “Nailed It!”

• Allison
  March 22nd, 2008 at 4:31 pm

  Very cool. I didn’t know you could sing overtones!

  I had a flute piece where a large section was done purely in overtones. I like this better, it doesn’t sound as annoying as a flute would

• gail
  March 22nd, 2008 at 4:34 pm

  Allison, the singer in this clip also has a tutorial explaining how it’s done — and there are lots of traditional “throat singers” who have been doing it for centuries, including Mongolians and Inuit.

• shecky
  March 22nd, 2008 at 7:29 pm

  Very well done indeed.

• L
  March 22nd, 2008 at 7:39 pm

  Reminds me of human bagpipes…

• Ty
  March 22nd, 2008 at 8:05 pm

  oh my god, i had to listen to that three times before i heard the flutey sound, but when i catch onto those tones, it finally became clear.

  AWESOME!

• DrJones
  March 22nd, 2008 at 9:02 pm

  This kid looks like the nerdy child on Honey I Shrunk the Kids! Kinda sounds like him too…minus the singing!

• MrPumpernickel
  March 22nd, 2008 at 9:11 pm

  Better example with much clearer overtone sounds: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DY1pcEtHI_w

  Though not Amazing Grace.

• alison
  March 22nd, 2008 at 10:48 pm

  wow! I’ve never heard of this before but I caught it after 2 listens, that was so cool!!

• Alex
  March 23rd, 2008 at 12:44 am

  Whoa - that was cool! I had to close my eyes and just listen, but it was pretty clear.

• Hirudin
  March 23rd, 2008 at 6:23 am

  Oddly enough I first heard about throat singing from Futurama… The episode is “Where the Buggalo Roam” (Season 4 Episode 6).

• xana32
  March 23rd, 2008 at 8:57 am

  i think you posted this to make me feel stupid. I don’t get it.

• Nastia
  March 23rd, 2008 at 9:19 am

  Unless you like bagpipes I don’t see how that is enjoyable to listen to

• gail
  March 23rd, 2008 at 9:44 pm

  Xana32, try not to focus on the low sounds he’s making. If you listen to them too closely, you’ll miss the higher-pitched flute-like sound that kind of hovers above them. It helps to close your eyes.

• DanO
  March 24th, 2008 at 6:30 am

  it sounds really bad. it’s neat, but what’s the point?

• gail
  March 24th, 2008 at 7:02 am

  Well, that’s a matter of taste. It’s a form of tone production that’s been around for centuries in the East (particularly Mongolia, Tibet) and is also practiced among the Inuit (so it apparently came across the Bering Straits with them from Siberia). Even for people who don’t like the way it sounds — and lots of Westerners can’t appreciate Eastern music — it has historical and cultural interest, and musical interest as well for people who are interested in the production of overtones.

• Viola
  March 24th, 2008 at 7:22 am

  //and lots of Westerners can’t appreciate Eastern music

  Totally with you there, gail. I think it’s amazing to listen to.

• hedwig
  March 24th, 2008 at 4:33 pm

  Not my taste, but I certainly did hear it and I’m impressed. I’m heading over there to see the tutorial… totally interesting.

• hedwig
  March 24th, 2008 at 4:57 pm

  Ok, I’m back from the youtube trip- that is so totally amazing. I think, like it or not, I’m going to have to try to do it… but I’m going to wait till I’m alone in the woods somewhere… lol

• Courageous Grace
  March 25th, 2008 at 12:15 am

  My 2 month old son can make two distinct sounds come out of his throat when he’s upset….sounds like he’s possessed. He also sleeps with his eyes open and all you see are the whites. Creepy.

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