This demonstration examines the notes associated with a harmonic series and how it may be used to generate a pentatonic scale. The first part plays the first 9 notes of a harmonic series (scale) with a variable first harmonic (starting frequency). The frequency of each note is an integer multiple of the starting frequency.
These intervals give five unique notes that make up a pentatonic scale. The interval between harmonics 6 and 7 is noticeably in the cracks of the piano but it is usually taken to be a major second.
This applet requires Java 1.1 and a sound card. The highest frequency that can be produced without aliasing problems is ~3500Hz. This demonstration was created by Dan Boye.