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

It’s a demonstration of how much richness you can get out of changing just one variable, because the harmonic progression is the same over and over.

From New York Times • Jun. 9, 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

Bits of themes—mere fragments marking definite rhythms—were used in spinning new melodies, a rhythm, or perhaps a sufficiently distinctive harmonic progression, connecting them with what had gone before.

From Haydn by Runciman, John F.