Equal-step tuning: Difference between revisions
m Added link to category in "see also", in order to aid navigation for mobile users who can't see categories by default |
Copypaste the terminology from the EPD article. Did I never note its periodicity? |
||
| Line 5: | Line 5: | ||
{{Wikipedia|Equal temperament}} | {{Wikipedia|Equal temperament}} | ||
An '''equal-step tuning''', '''equal tuning''', or '''equal division''' ('''ED''') is a [[period]]ic [[tuning system]] where the distance between adjacent steps is of constant [[Interval size|size]]. The size of this single step is given explicitly (e.g. [[88cET|88-cent equal tuning]]) or as a fraction of a larger interval (e.g. [[13edo|13 equal divisions of the octave]]). Any interval, rational/just, or irrational, may be used as the basis for an equal tuning, although divisions of the octave are most common, leading to [[edo]] systems. When a just interval is equally divided, it is assumed none of the resulting intervals are just, because if the interval has a rational root it is seen as a division of that [[root]]. | |||
When a tuning is called '''''n''-tone equal temperament''' (abbreviated ''n''-tet or ''n''-et), this usually means "''n'' divisions of 2/1, the octave, or some approximation thereof", but it also implies a mindset of [[Regular Temperaments|temperament]] – that is, of a JI-approximation-based understanding of the scale. If you are wondering how equal divisions of the octave can become associated with temperaments, the page [[EDOs to ETs]] may help clarify. | When a tuning is called '''''n''-tone equal temperament''' (abbreviated ''n''-tet or ''n''-et), this usually means "''n'' divisions of 2/1, the octave, or some approximation thereof", but it also implies a mindset of [[Regular Temperaments|temperament]] – that is, of a JI-approximation-based understanding of the scale. If you are wondering how equal divisions of the octave can become associated with temperaments, the page [[EDOs to ETs]] may help clarify. | ||
| Line 15: | Line 15: | ||
''As there are infinite intervals, there are infinite equal scales.'' Barring technicalities, there are large quantities of perceivably different equal scales. Seeing such a diverse menagerie at their disposal, some composers choose to combine multiple equal tunings [[ET survey|sequentially]] or [[Polymicrotonality|simultaneously]]. | ''As there are infinite intervals, there are infinite equal scales.'' Barring technicalities, there are large quantities of perceivably different equal scales. Seeing such a diverse menagerie at their disposal, some composers choose to combine multiple equal tunings [[ET survey|sequentially]] or [[Polymicrotonality|simultaneously]]. | ||
An equal step tuning is an [[Arithmetic tuning|arithmetic]] and [[harmonotonic tuning]]. | An equal-step tuning is an [[Arithmetic tuning|arithmetic]] and [[harmonotonic tuning]]. In terms of what musical resource is divided, it divides pitch, so it is an ''equal pitch division'' (''EPD''). Because pitch is the overwhelmingly most common musical resource to divide equally, this may be abbreviated to ED, or equal division. | ||
== Formula == | == Formula == | ||