More about commas

Richard Moody remoody@midstatesd.net
Sun, 16 Apr 2000 22:53:24 -0500


> the Pythagorean scale is constructed using only just 5ths(or 4ths).
> There are no just 3rds. >
> Bob Anderson
> Tucson, AZ

Actually to the ear there are pure 3rds in Pythagorean scales.  They are
actually off of pure by a tiny amount.   And only one or two at the most.
This has been written about by Lindley, the author of articles in New
Groves.   Not to beat about a band wagon, but Pythagorean has a lot of
acoustic and musical items of interest. My spread sheet shows a single split
key at F#/Gb  gives perfect fifths all the way around. Something must be
wrong because if it were that simple all keyboards today ( beginning in1300)
would have a single split key and no one would have to worry about
temperament.  After all a series of pure fifths or untempered fifths could
hardly be called a temperament.     ----ric




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