Has Anyone Delved Into Microtones?

[Koshchei]

I try to work it in subtly.

For example, if I have to cross a tone in three subdivisions, I might walk it up microtonally rather than jumping around or repeating notes: C | + 1/4 tone | + 3/8 tone (C# + 1/8th of a tone) | + 3/8 tone = D. I find that by switching to 3/8 of a tone from a 1/4 tone, I create a feeling of momentum which masks the fact that I just played three very "in-between" notes. Instead, people only notice the very smooth melodic contour and the strong false-supermajor resolution.

Props to Jacob Collier who I lifted the idea from.

 

[40Hz]

I do sometimes intentionally do things like play "third steps" when I need to move a whole step, and give the transition a triplet feel - just one of the things you can do on a fretless that you can't on a fretted.

Same here. I have a few prog pieces where you need to play “a note that isn’t there” to achieve a smooth transition between two chords. Sometimes I’ll just half bend a string to get it if I’m not playing fretless. If done right (and not just used as a gimmick) it sounds so natural that hardly anyone will ever notice you momentarily stepped outside the 12-tone framework.

 

[Bunk McNulty]

I studied composition with Joseph Maneri who was a champion of both micro-tonal writing and micro-tonal improvisation. Mercifully Joe never pressured his students into embracing micro-tonality; he was equally gifted (no pun intended) as a equal-tempered composer/performer/educator. But I did get to hear an awful lot of micro-tonal music that Joe brought to my attention. I think if I had a second, parallel lifetime I might consider investigating micro-tonality more enthusiastically, but my feeling (25 years ago when I was studying with Joe, as well as now) is that there's just so much possibility in the equal-tempered system that introducing tuning variables would just become a distraction to me.

I was lucky enough to see Joe and son Mat, who played often in Boston. I don't pretend to understand what's going on here, but I like it. And no, I have enough on my hands with 12 tones already, thanks.

 

[bearhart74]

 

[morgansterne]

I’m facinated by the work and instruments of Harry Partch, and also have an interest in gamelan music. Some friends of mine in my hometown are involved in an ensemble, and I try to see them whenever I can if I’m back there. One member, who otherwise is a drummer in old school country and roots rock groups, is working with his bass playing girlfriend’s band(a sort of goth/dark wave outfit)to incorporate the percussion into what they’re doing. The closest example that I could think of was the early 80’s British band, Japan...

I did my undergrad thesis on Harry Partch. A fascinating man, and brilliant. I believe he separated the octave into 47 tones? Or 43? So an 88 key organ covered only two octaves.

His instruments are on display in Seattle It would be fun to see a performance but mostly the music is not enjoyable to just listen to.

My keyboard can be set for quarter or eighth tones and improvising in quarter tones is reaallly fun.

 

[BarfanyShart]

Microtonal music p!$$es me off SO BAD. You start playing a DB at 10 years old, and they keep HARPING on you about "playing in tune." So you spend hours and hours every day trying to get EVERY little note on that big fingerboard EXXAAACTLY in the right intonation - AND I DON'T CARE that it doesn't sound right with that piano, CUZ THAT PIANO IS CLEARLY OUT OF TUNE... Then 15 years later you're in graduate school and they suddenly want to teach you about this FRIGGIN' GENIUS who F#$%ed a PIANO so that it can play "microtonal music" - and how this is the FUTURE OF MUSIC, and we all gotta learn how to play MICROTONAL MUSIC NOW... like, what do you think I've been doing MY WHOLE LIFE? I've been playing the WRONG NOTES MOST OF THE TIME - THIS WHOLE TIME ... and NOBODY EVEN NOTICED!!!!

 

[BarfanyShart]

Microtonal music p!$$es me off SO BAD. You start playing a DB at 10 years old, and they keep HARPING on you about "playing in tune." So you spend hours and hours every day trying to get EVERY little note on that big fingerboard EXXAAACTLY in the right intonation - AND I DON'T CARE that it doesn't sound right with that piano, CUZ THAT PIANO IS CLEARLY OUT OF TUNE... Then 15 years later you're in graduate school and they suddenly want to teach you about this FRIGGIN' GENIUS who F#$%ed a PIANO so that it can play "microtonal music" - and how this is the FUTURE OF MUSIC, and we all gotta learn how to play MICROTONAL MUSIC NOW... like, what do you think I've been doing MY WHOLE LIFE? I've been playing the WRONG NOTES MOST OF THE TIME - THIS WHOLE TIME ... and NOBODY EVEN NOTICED!!!!

Just kidding, of course, I presented a lecture recital in college on a microtonal piece I wrote for Turkish Electric Saz and Frame Drum. So, I'm really part of the problem here ...

 

[lz4005]

Sure. Every time I play fretless.

And every time any of us bend a note.

Kidding aside, there's tons of amazing microtonal stuff out there. Dave Fuiczynski's a fretless guitar player who has done a lot of great work with it. I don't know if he's still there, but he was the head of the Berkley microtonal studies program for a while. This is from one of their end-of-semester shows. (the 1/4 tone piano solo is pretty grating to my ear, but the rest is nice)

 

[Michedelic]

MonoNeon has done some microtonal stuff...



His microtonal bass was made by CallowHill.

It’s too bad that the planets weren’t aligned so that Mono would have been able to work with the Residents and Snakefinger.

 

[Michedelic]

I write this thread whilst listening to the entirety of the album Flying Microtonal Banana by King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, which is only my most current dive into the vast world of microtonal music, now, I know that there are a few EDM producers that have used (and possibly) still use microtones in their music, I know that a grand majority of microtonal music belongs to the culture of the Middle East, Asia, and India. With this being said, have any of you on TalkBass delved into microtonal music? What about playing this kind of music? How did you do it if so?

Here’s a link to the album I’m listening to if anyone hasn’t heard of them:



Additionally, I know that there is a production guitar that comes equipped with microtonal frets, (22 tone I believe). Does anyone know of a production microtonal bass? Or a company that would be willing to make one?

Heres the guitar:
Hi-Flyer Phase 4 MT

This stuff is very deceptive; I love how, in terms of pitch, the rug gets slowly pulled out from under you. It’s amazing how they do it in unison...

 

[ole Jason]

I play the oud and Arabic classical rep features microtones but not quite so many, or in the same way, as you find in Turkish music. Really it isn't too difficult to get started messing around with it. I usually recommend people start with maqam Bayati as it is pretty easy to hear. Maqam Bayati

If you want a cheap alternative to a microtone fretted guitar or bass you can usually pick up electric saz baglama on eBay pretty cheap.

 

[Michedelic]

Harry Partch is amazing as a composer, a music theoretician, and an instrument builder.

His book Genesis of a Music is something anyone looking to greatly broaden their musical horizons should consider reading.

I did my undergrad thesis on Harry Partch. A fascinating man, and brilliant. I believe he separated the octave into 47 tones? Or 43? So an 88 key organ covered only two octaves.

His instruments are on display in Seattle It would be fun to see a performance but mostly the music is not enjoyable to just listen to.

My keyboard can be set for quarter or eighth tones and improvising in quarter tones is reaallly fun.

Early last year there was a ‘road show’ of his constructed instruments, and an ensemble to play them. I was fortunate to catch a performance, and on the break, got to wander around all of them...

..and thoroughly enjoyed the music, everything I expected.

 

[Killing Floor]

My G was lots of microtunes off this morning. I worked on the bridge yesterday so I'm not suprised.

 

[Bob_Ross]

I was lucky enough to see Joe and son Mat, who played often in Boston.

Oh yeah, Joe and Mat were practically telepathic with their micro-tonal improvisations! Incredibly dialed in to one another's use of pitch nuance.

I played bass for Inslut, Mat Maneri's short-lived micro-tonal hip-hop band...fortunately all the micro-tonal stuff was happening on top of the equal-tempered grooves I had to lay down, otherwise I woulda been way out of my element.

 

[Michedelic]

I don’t know if Fred Frith enters the discussion, as his thing is ‘prepaired guitar’ and manipulation of harmonics, but he certainly is a master of bizarre overtones that are similar to the microtonal realm...


Then there is the whole Glenn Branca thing, which Sonic Youth developed out of...

I had mention Japan earlier, but yeah, Mick’s entire career is a study in how to mess around with pitch expectations, and still make it sound perfect...

 

[Michedelic]

No I haven't. I try to stay away from drugs.

You miss the point; you don’t necessarily need drugs to challenge your perception snd open your mind.

 

[bassdude51]

You miss the point; you don’t necessarily need drugs to challenge your perception snd open your mind.

I know, I know........trying to be the "clown" with a little humor. I mean, off hand, microtones does sound like some kind of "tablet" or something.

 

[40Hz]

It would be fun to see a performance but mostly the music is not enjoyable to just listen to.

There are those of us who would disagree with you about how his music isn’t enjoyable just to listen to. I find a lot of it quite enjoyable.

 

[jerry]

And every time any of us bend a note.

Kidding aside, there's tons of amazing microtonal stuff out there. Dave Fuiczynski's a fretless guitar player who has done a lot of great work with it. I don't know if he's still there, but he was the head of the Berkley microtonal studies program for a while. This is from one of their end-of-semester shows. (the 1/4 tone piano solo is pretty grating to my ear, but the rest is nice)

Fuze was the first artist I thought of when I saw the thread title.

 

[chadds]

No I haven't. I try to stay away from drugs.

They can get in the way. Worse part is you think you are playing microtonally. But you forgot to tune and it’s a live blues jam. It’s also possible to think you’re exceptional.