Topmusicanswers
- Why does the Pythagorean comma exist?
- Why is Pythagorean tuning important?
- What is the Pythagorean comma in music?
- What does a comma mean in orchestra?
Why does the Pythagorean comma exist?
The numbers are given by the relations between lengths of vibrating strings (or frequencies). ... Thus, the existence of commas in a scale made it necessary to re-think the Pythagorean idea and develope systems of tuning where the ratios cannot be expressed as simple fractions of small natural numbers anymore.
Why is Pythagorean tuning important?
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 is the Pythagorean comma in music?
A Pythagorean comma is a microtonal musical interval, named after the ancient mathematician and philosopher Pythagoras. It is sometimes called a ditonic comma. That is, twelve perfect fifths are not exactly equal to seven perfect octaves, and the Pythagorean comma is the amount of the discrepancy.
What does a comma mean in orchestra?
Comma, in music, slight difference in frequency (and therefore pitch) occurring when a note of a scale, say E in the scale of C, is derived according to different systems of tuning. ... This B♯, however, instead of being exactly in tune with C, is slightly higher, by 0.24 of a semitone.
