Pythagorean intervals

1. How do you calculate Pythagorean tuning?
2. What is the Pythagorean musical scale?
3. How did Pythagoras discover intervals?
4. Did Pythagoras create musical scales?

How do you calculate Pythagorean tuning?

From a C, we will build a major scale according to the Pythagorean tuning. We first calculate the fifth by multiplying the frequency of C by 3/2 (fifth size): To multiply a number by a fraction we multiply by the numerator (top number) and then divide by the denominator (bottom number). G = 261 x 3 / 2.

What is the Pythagorean musical scale?

Pythagorean tuning is a system of musical tuning in which the frequency ratios of all intervals are based on the ratio 3:2. ... The Pythagorean scale is any scale which can be constructed from only pure perfect fifths (3:2) and octaves (2:1).

How did Pythagoras discover intervals?

Pythagoras is attributed with discovering that a string exactly half the length of another will play a pitch that is exactly an octave higher when struck or plucked. Split a string into thirds and you raise the pitch an octave and a fifth. Spilt it into fourths and you go even higher – you get the idea.

Did Pythagoras create musical scales?

Around 500 BC Pythagoras studied the musical scale and the ratios between the lengths of vibrating strings needed to produce them.