Each bell consists of the following harmonics: Hum, Prime, minor third (always the minor third above the strike note), Nominal (octave above strike note), Superquint (together with Nominal, creates the illusion of the strike note), Octave-nominal, and other harmonics which sound like harmonics of a flat fourth - secondary strikes). It depends on the casting of the bell, whether the first two harmonics are tuned or not. In the relatively recent making of bells, the Hum harmonic and Prime harmonic are an octave apart (which are respectively the octave below the strike note and the strike note itself). However, old-style bell casting often tuned the Hum very sharp (almost a whole step, by about 150 cents) and the primes flat (equally flat by about 150 cents).
Unfortunately the description field is absolutely suicidally short so I am afraid I'll have to put each frequency of Big Ben's bells and their harmonic names in a frickin' COMMENT! But, come what may, Enjoy!!!!!
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