NEED TO KNOW ____ WHAT MAKES A GREAT TONE ???

   TONE >>> NASTY OR NICE?

An acoustic guitar creates a pitch of a note that we label with 11 different names. It's raw sound has overtones which also have like these notes different but related pitches and they too have those same names. In short you have an A, B, C, D, etc note you also have A, B, C, D, etc overtones. Overdriving the signal turns the harmonics and overtones up so they literally rival the basic note. As I just noted the harmonics have names and pitches themselves. 

The second harmonic is literally an octave of the note you play. The second harmonic of an A is A an octave up. The third harmonic is a G.

It may not sound good having the G as loud as the A ??? 

Once you make a chord than every note is creating that same thing of a third to itself. Your 3 note chord may be harmonious but will their overtones be trouble makers. 😠

 

Some harmonics are pleasant, like an acoustic guitar they are low in volume and do not clash with the basic tone. With an electric guitar although arguably you can have the harmonics as loud as the raw fundament tone and it can become caustic.