Tuning Is the pitch (frequency) of a G# different from that of an Ab? The answer to this question depends on which type of tuning we assume. A piano is generally tuned equal tempered, which means that the octave has been divided in twelve equal steps. While the low and mid-range octave intervals are justly, or almost justly tuned, all other intervals generate audible beats which can be perceived as a kind of vibrato. Equal tempered tuning could be thought of as a reference. It is a very practical tuning since we can modulate between different keys while using a set of only twelve notes per octave; each note having a fixed pitch. In equal tempered tuning, G# and Ab are both tuned to the same frequency. If we would like to have both fifths and octaves justly tuned, then we can use Pythagorean tuning. But since we now require both fifths and octaves to be justly tuned, we will need more than twelve notes per octave. This means that C, D, E, F, G, A and B will have fixed pitches while sharp notes become slightly higher in pitch compared to flat notes. So, in the Pythagorean approach, a G# is slightly higher in pitch compared to Ab. There are some misconceptions with regard to Pythagorean tuning because it is sometimes implemented as a temperament on a piano (the piano only has twelve keys per octave). The so-called wolf fifth can always be avoided when we have more than twelve notes per octave at our disposal. Another misconseption is that it was only used in medieval music - but no, it is still in use today! The third misconception is that thirds should ideally always be pure - but try using pure thirds in melodies, it just sounds awful! We can imitate Pythagorean tuning on a piano by playing sharp notes slightly harder, and flat notes slightly softer (a note can be perceived as being higher in pitch if you strike the key harder). This could be due to psychoacoustical phenomena; and/or simply the fact that slightly higher pitch, or a louder voice, both will make you sound more assertive. These effects could also explain why music with flat key signatures may have a more mellow sound than music with sharp key signatures. Timing and note durations can also be employed when mimicking Pythagorean tuning. Experiment #1: On a piano, play an F major scale: F, G, A, Bb, C, D, E, F while giving emphasis to the different notes according to the bars in the two graphs below. The pitches of Pythagorean tuning can be mimicked by playing notes harder or softer. Notice that when you play according to the left graph, it really sounds like a major scale. Then replace Bb with A#, as in the graph to the right, and play the same scale. This time it sounds like something completely different. You can even turn off the touch sensitivity on a digital piano and just play the notes with durations that correspond to the bars in the graphs. The differences shown by the graphs represent slight variations that should not be exaggerated. It's a question of intonation, not about altering note values. This excercise shows that you can play with a Pythagorean approach, on an instrument tuned to equal tempered tuning, even when touch sensitivity is not present. Experiment #2: On a piano (touch sensitivity is needed on a digital piano), play a C major chord: C, E, G while giving emphasis to the individual notes according to the upper, leftmost graph below. This can be a bit tricky, but you can play C and G with your left hand, and the note between them with your right hand. Compare the sound of the major third (E) when you replace it with Fb. If you listen carefully, the major third sounds higher in pitch if you play it as an E rather than Fb. The other chord is a C minor chord: C, Eb, G, where you can replace the minor third (Eb) with D#. Out of these different versions of a major chord and a minor chord, which ones do you prefer? The correctly spelled ones mimic Pythagorean tuning, while those using Fb and D# mimic "just" intonation. If you switch off touch sensitivity, you can play the note E slightly ahead of the others, or keep it sounding a little longer than the others, or even combine both these approaches. If we would like to have not only fifths and octaves justly tuned, but also thirds, then we end up with a great number of different pitches within the octave if we are to be able to modulate between keys. In fact, it is a mathematical consequence that for each additional interval we demand to be justly tuned, the number of needed pitches increases dramatically. By doing so we lose the feeling of, for example, what the note C stands for, since its pitch may change according to the musical context. Is then justly tuned intervals what we should strive for? It has been shown that musicians who are playing instruments which allows free intonation, including singers, do not necessarily prefer "just intonation", but might sometimes play or sing equal tempered, and sometimes with features lended from Pythagorean tuning. Using only justly tuned intervals could potentially make the music sound dull or lifeless. Choirs often choose to justly intonate the third in the final chord, but otherwise not. Pipe organs with complex registrations could perhaps benefit from a more "just" tuning in order to avoid excessive beating between partials coming from a multitude of sources. The introduction of audible beats does otherwise actually enhance the sound by adding what might resemble the vibrato of a singer. This implicates that equal tempered tuning is, contrary to what is sometimes claimed, not an inferior tuning. It is simply a question of personal taste if you prefer other tunings. Most people are so used to equal tempered tuning that they find other tunings more or less false. Pianists today can play digital pianos where you can tune the piano in many ways. If you have access to one of these pianos, try out different tunings and see what your personal preferences are. Experiment #3: Try setting a digital piano to some "just" tuning in the key of C and play a melody on the white keys. Notice how it sounds terribly out of tune. This shows that "just" tuning is not necessarily the ideal solution, contrary to what many people believe. This is why we talk about "just" intonation rather than "just" tuning. That is, we use standard pitches, but may adjust these slightly when harmony is involved. Melody, however, would typically call for a Pythagorean approach; and remember that harmony is there to support melody. There are, however, temperaments that can be quite useful when tuning a pipe organ, for instance. After listening to an alternate tuning for some time, our ears have a tendency to adjust to the new tuning. So, what we happen to like is very much depending on what we have been accustomed to; and there is no right or wrong when it comes to personal taste. Experiment #4: Try setting a digital piano to F# Pythagorean tuning and improvise something on the black keys. Switch back and forth between this tuning and the ordinary equal tempered tuning, and listen to the difference. For a better understanding of how Pythagorean tuning works, you can download the "Nydanalyzer" from the download section. Equal tempered tuning doesn't imply that we cannot deviate from it, provided, of course, that the instrument allows it. The musician is then free to make deliberate artistic deviations from the actual pitch. It is also a known fact that even very professional musicians make random errors occasionally, something which doesn't seem to bother us that much. Another tuning that should be mentioned here is the stretched equal tempered tuning with justly tuned fifths and slightly wider octaves. This tuning has been explored by Serge Cordier, who has written an excellent book (in French) on how to tune a piano to pure fifths (Piano bien tempéré et justesse orchestrale). A piano tuned this way will sound better together with violins, for example, which are generally tuned using beatless fifths. Violinists, among others, also have a tendency to play stretched. The wider octaves in the stretched tuning do not constitute any problem since people generally prefer these. In fact, all intervals seem to be closer to those preferred by most people. Also, if you play an arpeggio on an instrument with stretched tuning, the final note will sound just right, whereas in an ordinary strict equal tempered tuning you may get the impression of not reaching all the way. The stretched tuning with justly tuned fifths really ought to be the new reference in Western music, and not just for piano. A stretch of 0.3 cents per semitone (3.6 cents per octave) will make the fifths pure. Should a musical notation be able to make the distinction between, for example, G# and Ab? It's not absolutely necessary, but on the other hand, it certainly cannot be regarded as a disadvantage if made possible. However, it's not only a question about pitch. Making the distinction between flat and sharp notes can also, to some degree, help clarify the musical structure. For instance, a G# followed by an A could signal that it's in the key of A major, or perhaps E major, while Ab followed by A may indicate a modulation from one key to another. It may also be helpful, especially if you're improvising, to know that, for instance, F# is derived from the note F which means that F will generally be replaced by F#. In case you give F#/Gb a new name, let's say "Q", then it isn't as easy to know that this Q is meant to replace F in a certain situation, because it could also be replacing G if we're dealing with another key. One useful thing about a diatonic notation such as Nydana, is that it is easy to identify leading-tones. For example: C -> C# -> D lets us know that there is a bigger step (in Pythagorean tuning) from C to C# than it is from C# to D. That is, when the two noteheads are on the same vertical position on the staff, but differ in color, then there is a bigger step involved (cf. augmented prime). Consequently, C# is a leading-tone to D (minor second), and in this case the two noteheads get adjacent, but *different*, vertical positions on the staff. D -> Db -> C signals that Db is a leading-tone down to C; that is, Db is closer to C than it is to D - "it leans towards C, being repelled from D". Notice the consistency in both how notes are named and how they are represented in notated form. Differentiations such as these may allow us to make better musical interpretations, pertaining to what the composer may originally have had in mind.