harmonic progression

American  

noun

Mathematics.

1. a series of numbers the reciprocals of which are in arithmetic progression.

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harmonic progression British  

noun

1. a sequence of numbers whose reciprocals form an arithmetic progression, as 1, 1/ 2 , 1/ 3 , …

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harmonic progression Scientific  

1. A sequence of quantities whose reciprocals form an arithmetic progression, such as 1, 1/3, 1/5, 1/7, …. and so on.

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Etymology

Origin of harmonic progression

First recorded in 1865–70

Example Sentences

But while the moody harmonic progression and title might suggest an ode, nothing in Mr. Picton’s songs is ever easy, or obvious.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 14, 2026

To achieve this, producers make sure that the songs vary in instrumentation, harmonic progression and dynamic levels when placed next to one another.

From Salon • Dec. 13, 2021

"His chorales always have four voices: each carries their own melodic line, creating a rich harmonic progression when played together," writes Google.

From Time • Mar. 21, 2019

A subtler figure, associated with Catholic ritual, is a harmonic progression that combines a tonic chord with a triad on the flattened sixth degree: say, A-flat major against E major.

From The New Yorker • Oct. 15, 2018

In mathematics, he was the first to draw up a methodical treatment of mechanics with the aid of geometry; he first distinguished harmonic progression from arithmetical and geometrical progressions.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 2, Slice 4 "Aram, Eugene" to "Arcueil" by Various