WAVE Waveform · Square
Square
Oscillator waveform · square
Harmonic content Odd harmonics only, falling off proportionally to one over the harmonic number.
A square wave alternates between two levels, spending equal time at each. The instant transitions produce a strong set of odd harmonics — no even ones — giving square its hollow, clarinet-like body. It is darker and woodier than saw because of the missing even harmonics, and that hollowness is the defining quality of a lot of vintage synth pads and basses.
▸Typical uses
- Hollow pads and pulse-width-modulated layers
- Vintage square-wave basses
- Bell tones when paired with fast envelopes
- Reedy leads
▸In the curriculum
Lessons that explicitly use, or naturally lean on, the square waveform:
▸Other waveforms
Compare square against the other oscillator shapes:
Hear square alone, then watch the filter eat its harmonics. The PatchPond studio loads any oscillator waveform with one click.
Open studio →