Pythagorean tuning is a system of musical tuning in which the frequency ratios of all intervals are based on the ratio 3:2. This ratio, also known as the "pure" perfect fifth, is chosen because it is one of the most consonant and easiest to tune by ear and because of importance attributed to the integer 3.
- What are Pythagoras ratios?
- Who is Pythagoras intervals?
- How do you find the Pythagorean scale?
- Did Pythagoras create music scales?
What are Pythagoras ratios?
Pythagoras called the relationship between two notes an interval. For example, as mentioned above, when two strings have the same length, they have the same pitch, and the relationship, or interval, between the notes is called a unison.
...
3.2 Pythagorean Intervals.
Name | Ratio |
---|---|
Unison | 1:1 |
Octave | 2:1 |
Perfect Fifth | 3:2 |
Who is Pythagoras intervals?
In musical tuning theory, a Pythagorean interval is a musical interval with frequency ratio equal to a power of two divided by a power of three, or vice versa. For instance, the perfect fifth with ratio 3/2 (equivalent to 31/21) and the perfect fourth with ratio 4/3 (equivalent to 22/31) are Pythagorean intervals.
How do you find the Pythagorean scale?
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.
Did Pythagoras create music scales?
Around 500 BC Pythagoras studied the musical scale and the ratios between the lengths of vibrating strings needed to produce them. Since the string length (for equal tension) depends on 1/frequency, those ratios also provide a relationship between the frequencies of the notes.