Polyrythms?

[geshel]

P.S. http://home.earthlink.net/~kgann/histune.html

[moley]

Originally posted by geshel
OK, here's an example. With the MP3 compression it's harder to tell, but we'll see.

This recording is a "set-up": I play (as close as I can) the perfect third first (two times), then the equal-tempered third after that (three times).

I checked the pitch of both notes with my tuner (on the V-Bass). The equal-tempered samples are just the notes fretted as is. To get the just-intoned version, I bent the low string up a bit (equal-tempered thirds are too sharp).

See if you can hear a difference. And if you can, how does it sound?

I can hear the difference. The first two sound more pure, and perfect - whereas in the last three, you can hear the "beat".

[Howard K]

yes i cabn hear the difference - but yes the mp3 compression doesnt help... moely i can hear the lesser beat frequencies onm the last 3 'sounds',,, it sounds rather 'ye olde' somehow..

interesting, cool, ta

edit - no wait a minute.. wrong way round

the mp3 rattle really doesnt help!

[geshel]

Originally posted by Howard K


well i had a fretless for about 6 months - a 1980 ibanez musician - i sold it eventually as it was unlined (not an ideal learner instrument!) it also had areally muddy tone that i just didnt really get into...

anyway - i found that min 3rds did indeed sound weird and i could never quite intonate them properly - they just never sounded quite right somehow. i was so sure it wasnt my intonation as i sat there with a tuner many times to make sure i was 'dead on' and it still sounded odd. then i learnt about this equal temprement thingy and i think that had something to do with it somehow?

Yup, equal-tempered minor thirds are "too" flat. Though, intonation depends on context so much - I don't want to give the impression that equal temperament is "inferior" to harmonic intervals or anything really. Given that the music I write tends to modulate keys frequently, I'm happy to have it!

[geshel]

Originally posted by Howard K
yes i cabn hear the difference - but yes the mp3 compression doesnt help... moely i can hear the lesser beat frequencies onm the last 3 'sounds',,, it sounds rather 'ye olde' somehow..

interesting, cool, ta

Doh! that's backwards.

[Howard K]

yeah, i just re-read...

i can hear trhe difference, but the latter does indeed sound 'nicer' to me....

[E.O.M.]

The only times I ever incorporate just temperament is when I'm playing major/minor thirds on a fretless bass or something without frets/keys such as a bartone horn.

When I play a major third, I play down a bit (in pitch).

When I play a minor third, I play up a bit.

I'm not sure I'm exact, but I think equal tempered major thirds are 14 cents sharp, and minor thirds are 16 cents flat. Equal tempered dominant sevenths are 22 cents sharp, if I remember correctly.

My band director played a dominant seventh chord in both just and equal tempered tunings. The just sounds purer, and doesn't have those waves.