Topmusicanswers
- Is just intonation equal temperament?
- Why does just intonation sound better?
- When was just intonation used?
- Is just intonation better?
Is just intonation equal temperament?
The "equal tempered scale" was developed for keyboard instruments, such as the piano, so that they could be played equally well (or badly) in any key.
...
Just vs Equal Temperament (and related topics)
| Interval | Ratio to Fundamental Just Scale | Ratio to Fundamental Equal Temperament |
|---|---|---|
| Octave | 2.0000 | 2.0000 |
Why does just intonation sound better?
Our brains tell us that the first interval is more consonant, simply because it requires less effort to process than the second one. Of course, in the real world, things are rarely absolutely perfect and two tones in the ratio of 40001:50001 will be heard as "near enough" to 4:5.
When was just intonation used?
Supposedly used in medieval monophonic music (melody only, without harmony) and considerably discussed by theorists, just intonation proved impractical for polyphonic (multipart) music and was replaced at least by the year 1500 by meantone temperament.
Is just intonation better?
“Better sharp than out of tune.” Just intonation is, many believe, a more “pure” way of tuning and offers greater timbral and sonic possibilities than equal-temperament—the de facto form of intonation in Western music today. ...
