Why do we need tempered tuning?

In musical tuning, a temperament is a tuning system that slightly compromises the pure intervals of just intonation to meet other requirements. ... The development of well temperament allowed fixed-pitch instruments to play reasonably well in all of the keys.

1. Why do we use well tempered scale?
2. Why does a piano have to be tempered?
3. Why are pianos tuned with equal tempered tuning?
4. Why is equal temperament important?

Why do we use well tempered scale?

Origins. As used in the 17th century, the term "well tempered" meant that the twelve notes per octave of the standard keyboard were tuned in such a way that it was possible to play music in all major or minor keys that were commonly in use, without sounding perceptibly out of tune.

Why does a piano have to be tempered?

The piano is an untunable instrument. With only 12 notes in an octave, their combinations (intervals) cannot all be perfectly "in tune" at once. Tuning a note to perfect one interval will spoil others which use that same note ,thus, compromises (tempering) are used to create the maximum number of usable intervals.

Why are pianos tuned with equal tempered tuning?

Just tuning is often used by ensembles (such as for choral or orchestra works) as the players match pitch with each other "by ear." 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.

Why is equal temperament important?

Because it enables keyboard instruments to play in all keys with minimal flaws in intonation, equal temperament replaced earlier tuning systems that were based on acoustically pure intervals, that is, intervals that occur naturally in the overtone series. ...