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Things we need to know, so what Im about to say sounds like Im speaking English:
Frequency: The number of Cycles a wave makes in one second; how fast a wave travels. Hertz: Cycles per second. Measures
frequency.
Ratio: The resulting fraction when dividing two numbers. Can also be expressed as a decimal.
Frequency Ratio: A number obtained when a larger frequency is divided by a smaller frequency. This shows the interval between two frequencies.
Ratios are multiplied by each other to increase, and divided to decrease the ratio.
Pythagorean Tuning
Based of the division of a string
Ratio of the first string to the first divide: Octave: 1/()= 2
Characteristics
The Circle of Fifths based on the division of a string yield 15 different notes.
Enharmonic notes are not enharmonic (F# is a bit lower than Gb, for example).
Unison Minor Second Major Second Minor Third Major Third Fourth Diminished Fifth Fifth Minor Sixth Major Sixth Minor Seventh Major Seventh Octave
Characteristics
All thirds are greatly in tune. The Ratio between C and G is not the same between F and A. C:G=3/2 (1.5) D:A=40/27 (1.481481) The same problems with unequal enharmonic notes persists, especially when transposing to other keys. In C, the Major Second C to D has a ratio of 9/8. In F, going from C to D would have a ratio of 10/9
Characteristics
All half-steps are the same; enharmonic notes are truly enharmonic No interval is a perfect ratio anymore, except for octaves 1.0594637=1.04983, not 1.5 However, because the fifth is only off by .00169, most people will not notice.
Perfect 8vas?
Using Pythagorean Tuning system, when the Circle of 5ths was completed, the ending pitch would be a hair below where we started.
Conclusions
In Gregorian Chant and early Polyphony, Perfect 5ths and 8vas were acceptable because the main instrument, the human voice, could always adjust to the correct pitch of a true Perfect 5th. Perfect 5ths were unacceptable during the just tuning period because some intervals had a ratio of 1.5 and other has 1.481this was a noticeable difference.