Acolyte Instruments - Euphonic Array™ - Overtone1

Acolyte Instruments is proud to present an innovative new sound world: the Acolyte Instruments Euphonic Array™.

The Euphonic Array™, developed by Chris Andersen and Acolyte Instruments founder Terence Jay, represents a completely new class of metal musical instruments played by friction.

These instruments produce a singing, ethereal sound that is unique of its kind.

Overtone1

The Overtone1 is particularly unique because this instrument is not tuned according to the usual equal temperament tuning (the global standard), but according to the principle of “Just Intonation”.

What does that mean?

Instead of playing traditional “notes”, the Overtone1 produces physical harmonics based on fixed frequency ratios from a single fundamental tone. These overtones occur naturally in sound and resonance in nature.

The Euphonic Array™ Overtone1 starts from a frequency of 65,406 Hz (roughly comparable to a C2 within equal temperament) and then builds up harmonic frequencies in proportions:

1/4 - 1/5 - 1/6 - 1/7 - 1/8 - 1/9 - 1/10

This creates a special, organic and almost otherworldly sound world that feels fundamentally different from traditional instruments.

Important to know

Because the Overtone1 is tuned in Just Intonation, the instrument usually does not sound clean along with most other instruments using the standard equal temperament tuning.

The Overtone1 is therefore not designed for traditional music as you know it from an orchestra, but rather as a form of sonic art - a unique sound experience in which resonance, harmonics and ambience are central.

And besides, it simply sounds incredibly impressive.

Way to play

You play these beautiful instruments by wetting your fingers and finding the right degree of friction between your fingers and the sound bars. Watch the video to see this in action.