However, an analysis of the bell's frequency spectrum reveals that the fundamental only exists weakly and its dominance is a human perception of a note built up by the complex series of harmonics that are generated.
[1] The correct and accurate harmonic tuning is therefore important in creating a good strike tone.
Finally, as the sound of the bell ebbs, the slowly decaying hum tone (an octave below the prime, see subharmonic) lingers on.
The low sound heard after the strike note has lost its intensity is called the hum.
"[10] "The strike note is of great interest to psychoacousticians, because it is a subjective tone created by three strong nearly harmonic partials in the bell sound.
The ear assumes these to be partials of a missing fundamental, which it hears as the strike note.