Just Intonation Example

Two renditions of a melody in a rational intonation very divergent from equal temperament.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• equal
• temperament
• meantone
• just
• rational

[yourforte]

I honestly didn't realise just intonation would sound so different from equal temperament. This is a very interesting video.

[karlmahlmann]

@yourforte Thanks. A little more explanation: Usually you think about J. I. making music sound more pleasing and harmonious. In this case, however, the lead instrument is the only thing that's in J.I. and so there is that straining effect. This is a snippet from something way back I didnt fully document. The J. I is not exactly Pythagorean [1 256/243 9/8 32/27 81/64 4/3 729/512 3/2 128/81 27/16 16/9 243/128 ] I may have used 6/5 and 5/4 for the minor and major 3rds respectively. Thx

[karlmahlmann]

I've had a couple questions of the form "What the heck is this?" perhaps I didn't explain it very well. Both melody lines are identical in pitch.  The sinewave is to show it uncluttered. I thought it was interesting because the tuning, itself, seemed to impart the kind of strain and emotion that a guitarist would create by bending the strings. The tuning was similar to Pythagorean.

[CusterFlux]

Yeah, you can hear the difference - everything rings much better, don't know how else to describe it: the problem is, good luck modulating keys on an electric guitar while just tuned for C Major ... hell, good luck tuning a guitar justly in the first place ( the thirds have always driven me crazy )

[vibratingstring]

Or I should say, "usually" in terms of violin talk, for instance as Karl Sassmannshaus uses the terms...but I guess it is really an open field?

[vibratingstring]

@karlmahlmann

Usually "Just" is used as distinct from Pythagorean, in other words low ratios. 6:5 for min 3rd and 5:4 for major 3rd, 4:3 for 4th, and 3:2 for 5th, all others in the diatonic series following from these. Pythagorean builds directly from adding a 5th to a fifth (actualy multiplication) and reducing the octave, over and over....which leads to high ratios such as 81:64

[rbheiss]

I'm not sure I get it either but I got something out of it for sure. I was thinking of Bob Dylan's "All Along the Watchtower". Then I thought about Jimi Hendrix's cover of Dylan's song. That is somewhat like your little example here in my mind anyway. Both versions of the song.... like both versions of your example are basically the same. Depending on the ears listening some will like the first and some will like the second. Ultimately they are in agreement without realizing it..

Rolland

[harktheherald]

i don't get it.

[sixstringplunker]

creative!