44
votes
Why do E♯ and F♮ not sound the same (according to Wikipedia)?
I think this particular phrasing is rather confusing, as it is trying to talk about two concepts at the same time: enharmonic equivalence, and intonation.
The concept of intonation (and temperament, ...
- 46.1k
42
votes
Accepted
Why do E♯ and F♮ not sound the same (according to Wikipedia)?
The thing is that the "some tunings that define the notes in that way" in the Wikipedia quote include the most common tuning today, 12-tone equal temperament (12-TET). So, E# and F natural do usually ...
- 14.2k
23
votes
Is it mathematically possible to create an equal temperament which matches just interval ratios?
The other answers approach this from dividing the octave and showing that equal divisions must be irrational. Another way of looking at this is to consider whether we can compose an octave by ...
- 23.6k
23
votes
How many notes are in an octave in Indian classical music? Is it 7, 12, or 22?
To use Indian musical terminology, there are 7 swara, 12 swara-prakaar, and 22 shruti in an octave.
The seven swara in Indian music are the equivalents of the Western do re mi fa so la ti. In Indian ...
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21
votes
What are the advantages and disadvantages of an all-fourths guitar tuning?
I've tried all-fourths tuning quite a bit. To me, it definitely makes purely monophonic playing a lot more instinctive (even having got used to standard tuning) - any little one-octave scale shape you ...
- 46.1k
19
votes
Accepted
Do I risk ruining my guitar by switching the tuning often?
It's not going to make much difference. The tension differential is less than 5% overall. If you can manage it, get another guitar and have each in the tuning you need. One always has at least one ...
- 195k
15
votes
Is it mathematically possible to create an equal temperament which matches just interval ratios?
As I understand the question, this is pure mathematics:
No it is impossible. No matter, how many divisions you have, say n, the step width will always be nth root of two and therefore an irrational ...
- 11.3k
14
votes
What are the advantages and disadvantages of an all-fourths guitar tuning?
Right off the bat, barre chords are pretty much ruined. Some of the open chords are still ok, but others you'd have to mute the top strings in some cases where you don't currently have to. Some open ...
- 57.3k
12
votes
Accepted
How would you play a normal song on an n-TET instrument?
There's no single, universal answer to this.
Most Western music is based on a combination of diatonic melody (which is arguably best rendered in Pythagorean tuning, i.e. 9:8 whole-tone steps), and 5-...
- 35.6k
11
votes
Accepted
What makes a B-D-D-D-D-D tuning useful? Doesn't it make it more difficult to play?
I do not know what "tuning" such as this as
A tuning defines the notes of the open strings on a guitar. Standard tuning is E-A-D-G-B-E but other tunings are rather common as well. The main reason ...
- 1,860
11
votes
Accepted
Tune high B and E strings one octave apart like the other strings?
Why are they tuned like this? Unlike the rest of strings
Simply put because there aren't any strings made that can go high enough without breaking.
Could this be achieved with the standard set of ...
- 5,089
10
votes
Do I risk ruining my guitar by switching the tuning often?
Switching between standard E tuning and drop D tuning is so common that some guitarists use special tuning knobs that flip between the two with a switch. I have a bass guitar version on my Fender Jazz ...
- 6,718
9
votes
Accepted
What is the point in different guitar tunings?
The guitar and similar fretted stringed instruments can be extremely versatile - but have inherent limitations to what chords or series of notes can be efficiently played on them using any given ...
- 27.3k
9
votes
Is there a mathematic reason why Standard tuning for guitar is number 1 in the series of tunings? Could AI find it given a guitar with no tuning?
I assume that an algorithm or AI could come up with a different useful tuning, but I suspect it would be a slight variation of the currently popular tunings. After all, the tuning is very much limited ...
- 91
8
votes
Accepted
How far to de-tune an orchestra to match the BBC World Service pips (beeps)?
The frequencies of B5 and C6, when using standard 440Hz tuning, are:
B5: 987.767 Hz
C6: 1046.502 Hz
As you can see, 1000Hz is closer to B5. Using the standard way of describing pitch on a ...
- 3,652
8
votes
What makes a B-D-D-D-D-D tuning useful? Doesn't it make it more difficult to play?
Maybe it makes it more difficult to play for someone who's used to standard tuning, as all chord shapes are different. However, using just one shape, it's possible to move it up and down to produce ...
- 195k
8
votes
Why are open guitar tunings usually in major?
I think the main reason is simply selection bias. Open-tuned guitars are most often used in blues and genres derived from it, and blues traditionally uses almostly exclusively major chords (usually ...
- 35.6k
7
votes
Can any song on guitar be played with standard tuning and without a capo?
It depends what you mean. If you mean play a recognisable version of the song, it's almost certainly possible without a capo or a particular tuning. If you mean getting it sounding the same without a ...
- 46.1k
7
votes
Is it mathematically possible to create an equal temperament which matches just interval ratios?
You can't even get an equal temperament system* in which fifths and octaves are perfect. This is simply because if you had a system of equal steps in which an octave was A steps large and a twelfth ...
- 286
7
votes
Accepted
How do you play a low Eb on a double bass?
TL;DR
The score generally leaves plenty of space to detune and retune the E string, and there are many E naturals that would clearly be better played open. There is also no scordatura indication in ...
- 91.2k
7
votes
Are there regular open tunings for guitar?
Regular tuning gives P4 between all strings except 3rd-2nd, which is M3.
Basic major chords are made up from M3, m3 and P4, while minor chord are similar, but m3, M3 and P4.
Thus the answer is no, as ...
- 195k
6
votes
Accepted
Octaves doubling on double bass in "Sometimes I'm happy" by Lester Young?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slam_Stewart
"Leroy Eliot "Slam" Stewart (September 21, 1914 – December 10, 1987) was an African American jazz bass player whose trademark style was his ability to bow ...
- 1,460
6
votes
Accepted
Why do I want different guitars for different tunings?
Changing the tuning too drastically can throw your setup out of whack. So, no, simply retuning is not hard. But setting up your guitar—checking neck relief, string height and intonation—each time is ...
- 4,138
6
votes
What are the advantages and disadvantages of an all-fourths guitar tuning?
Similar to the tuning on most 6 string basses. One of the points for playing a 6 string bass is that chords can be played - albeit 3 or 4 string chords, as much more gets muddy. And often not strummed,...
- 195k
6
votes
Accepted
G-D-A naming convention
Suppose it could be called G5 add 9, since the A isn't actually a 2, but an octave higher, making it 9. And the answer won't be G14...
On the other hand - it could be construed as a sus chord - no B, ...
- 195k
6
votes
G-D-A naming convention
You can definitely call that that a sus2 voicing. It's also worth noting that it's an example of quintal harmony: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quartal_and_quintal_harmony
6
votes
Accepted
Determining open tunings while transcribing
A few ideas:
If you become familiar with a number of the most common open tunings, some chances are there that the song you're trying to transcribe uses one of them, and at least some of the time you'...
- 6,359
6
votes
How would you play a normal song on an n-TET instrument?
By offering better approximations to (5-limit, 7-limit, or even higher) just intervals, 53-tone equal temperament gives you the opportunity to choose different pitches not only for accidentals but ...
- 23.6k
6
votes
Accepted
Are there regular open tunings for guitar?
Is [...open tuning...the intervals between strings are the same...when played open gives a major or minor chord...] actually possible?
Categorically, no.
In terms of "stacked" intervals ...
- 58.3k
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