If you look at the overtone series, specifically from the 8th to the 16th, you’lll notice that they fit into an octave and almost, but not quite, make up a major scale.. I’d like to look a little closer at that difference.

If we start on a C, the notes of the series are (almost)

C D E F# G Ab Bb B C

I say almost because they are not actually these notes…these are merely the closest approximations to the notes if you are playing a well-tempered clavier or its descendants. If you are playing something a little more flexible, such as a fretless string instrument like the violin, you can adjust your playing and play exactly these pitches.