I read the following from wikipedia:
When a string is plucked normally, the ear tends to hear the fundamental frequency most prominently, but the overall sound is also colored by the presence of various overtones (frequencies greater than the fundamental frequency).
When I pluck a string, I just notice a node at each end and an antinode at the middle. How can we have overtones in addition to the fundamental frequency? It seems counterintuitive for me.
Answer
The only way to avoid overtones would be to pluck the string in such a way that its initial shape is sinusoidal. However, that would be nearly impossible. In practice, the initial shape is almost always triangular.
If you are familiar with Fourier transforms, consider how you would do a discrete Fourier decomposition of the string's initial shape. The Fourier components correspond to the overtones.
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