Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site decwrl.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!floyd!harpo!decvax!decwrl!rhea!marvin!isbell From: isbell@marvin.DEC (Chris Isbell ) Newsgroups: net.music Subject: Tempered scales Message-ID: <6262@decwrl.UUCP> Date: Thu, 22-Mar-84 02:45:36 EST Article-I.D.: decwrl.6262 Posted: Thu Mar 22 02:45:36 1984 Date-Received: Sat, 17-Mar-84 02:47:17 EST Organization: DEC Engineering Network Lines: 43 [Mystics line] Quote from Jim Janney: >Any woodwind instrument, however well made, is the result of many >compromises between tuning conflicts and has many notes that sound out >of tune. The player must make adjustments to correct for these. In >general, the size of these adjustments far outweighs the differences >between the even-tempered scale and more natural scales. Wot I think: I agree fully with the first two points, but I am less certain if the compromises in the instrument outweigh the errors inherent in the equal tempered scale. According to my calculations, the equal tempered major third has a frequency ratio of 1.2599..., while the just third is exactly 1.25. This is an error of 0.8 percent. (An error of a whole semitone is 6 percent.) I have not taken any scientific measurement of the tuning errors in modern woodwind instruments, but my subjective experience is that this error *is* significant. I find it much easier to play in just intonation on a recorder compared to a modern flute. Also, my feeble attempts at playing other modern woodwind instruments are, in general, fairly in tune (equal tempered) which again suggests to me that the errors inherent in equal tempered scales are significant. Does anyone have any data on the actual tuning errors found in woodwind instruments? Asides: I have a number of the cheaper Moeck wooden recorders. On these, the whole instrument has been made slightly flat, and the A has been sharpened to bring it up to concert pitch. If you want to scare animals or make a fool of yourself, try playing a French Bombarde. Chris Isbell. (decwrl!rhea!marvin!isbell) ------- End of Returned Message