This means my "tight fifth" splits the difference between just intonation and equal temperament approximately in half, with slightly over 1 cent difference from equal temperament for each fifth. Quantitatively, I can say that my C string is 3-4 cents flat on the electronic tuner instead of the 6 cents you would expect from tuning to perfect intervals. When tuning "tight fifths" by ear, it still sounds a lot like a perfect fifth, but there's a certain qualitative difference in the sound. Because the perfect fifth differs from the equal temperament fifth by about 2 cents, we can't really hear the difference within a single instrument, but it becomes apparent (at 8 cents difference) when we add the C string. The human ear can hear a difference of about 6 cents. If we don't, the viola and cello C string will sound out of tune compared to a violin E string. We learn to tune to "tight fifths" which are essentially a compromise between equal temperament and perfect fifths. Violists and cellists do this routinely, though usually by listening to the fifths instead of with an electronic tuner. I'll try to get some thinking time tomorrow morning - too late in the day here for that kind of thing The sound will not ring with sympathetic vibrations.Ībsolutely agree, math and physics tell us so, even before our ears can sense it.ĭon't really know what the answer is without delving into the math (which I'm not minded to do right now!) - but as I say - these things always intrigue me. With the four strings of the violin tuned to equal temperament, the instrument will be in tune with the piano but it’s acoustic properties will be compromised.
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