All Questions
10 questions
5
votes
3
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754
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Why are the perfect fifth and fourth called "perfect" in 12-ET when they differ by approximately 2 cents from just intonation? [duplicate]
The terms "perfect fifth" and "perfect fourth" are commonly used in music theory to describe these intervals in both 12-tone equal temperament (12-ET) and just intonation. However, ...
- 51
5
votes
8
answers
4k
views
Perfect Pitch: Are tones recognizable by themselves or only in comparison with another tone?
Are the frequencies C4 = 260 Hz and A4 = 440 Hz actually noticeably different to someone with “perfect pitch”? I ask myself, what did they learn differently growing up to notice the difference in ...
- 1,018
3
votes
1
answer
94
views
Consonant vs. Dissonant Major Thirds: Historical Process and Significance of Tuning System
In the comments to the question Why is the fourth against the bass considered a dissonance?, I wrote
A 5:4 third was considered dissonant until musical tastes changed and declared it consonant.
To ...
- 95k
0
votes
2
answers
322
views
How to calculate the extra semitone in one circle of fifths
This is an extension to my previous question when I tried to do the math to prove the following statement:
going up 12 perfect fifths takes one up 7 octaves plus one-fourth
of a semitone extra
Going ...
- 673
1
vote
1
answer
243
views
Is this an F below middle C? (check my relative pitch estimation plus my math)
I'm listening to a "tone" and estimating its frequency and need some help checking both my relative pitch estimation and my math.
In this noisy part of this video the Mars helicopter ...
- 647
12
votes
10
answers
4k
views
If equal temperament divides an octave into 12 equal parts, why are the hertz differences not the same but 12ths of two?
Let's take a 440Hz A pitch and the 880Hz A an octave higher.
If we divide space between 440Hz and 880Hz into 12 equal parts, we would have:
[440Hz, 476.6, 513.2 ... 880Hz.]
And this looks ...
- 231
9
votes
6
answers
4k
views
Guitar tuning "perfect" fourths?
Virtually all the sources I can find claim that the intervals between adjacent guitar strings in standard tuning (EADGBE) should be perfect fourths, except for one major third. However, since a ...
8
votes
4
answers
2k
views
Tritone or Minor 2nd as the most dissonant interval? [closed]
I'm trying to establish which interval is more dissonant, the tritone or the minor 2nd. Both are obviously very dissonant intervals.
Math seems to prove that a minor 2nd should sound more consonant ...
3
votes
3
answers
327
views
Tuning of Accidentals & Scales
In his Book Basics, Simon Fischer wrote in a footnote that:
The exact tuning of a sharp or a flat depends on the key, style and
character of the music. For example, Bb as the tonic of Bb Major is
...
- 1,407
2
votes
2
answers
3k
views
How can I tune my timpani to different pitches just using a tuning fork or pitch pipe
Ok. So I consider myself to have pretty good pitch. If you give me a few seconds after you sound a note, I can tell you what the note is. I can also tune a timpani to any pitch using only my mouth (...
- 971