User:Grady/Harmonic similarity: Difference between revisions

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=== Base similarity relations ===

Of course, the knowledge that harmonic similarity should follow this pseudo-transitive property isn't very helpful in determining which notes are harmonically similar without establishing some basic similarity relationships first. Essentially, two pitches have a basic similarity relation if the frequency of one is a low integer multiple of the other. The reason for this might be that we're highly accustomed to hearing harmonic timbres, so usually when we hear a note, we also somewhat prominently hear low integer multiples of that frequency as well, and this causes our brains to associate those higher harmonics as "similar" to the fundamental. The lower the integer multiple, the more prominently we hear it in those harmonic timbres, which corresponds to the fact that lower integer multiples represent stronger harmonic similarity relationships.

Of course, the knowledge that harmonic similarity should follow this pseudo-transitive property isn't very helpful in determining which notes are harmonically similar without establishing some basic similarity relationships first. Essentially, two pitches have a basic similarity relation if the frequency of one is a low integer multiple of the other. The reason for this might be that we're highly accustomed to hearing harmonic timbres, so usually when we hear a note, we also somewhat prominently hear low integer multiples of that frequency as well, and over time this causes our brains to associate those higher harmonics as "similar" to the fundamental. The lower the integer multiple, the more prominently we hear it in those harmonic timbres, which corresponds to the fact that lower integer multiples represent stronger harmonic similarity relationships.

Revision as of 01:54, 3 August 2025 view source Grady (talk \| contribs) 55 edits →Definition: Added section for base similarity relations Tag: Visual edit ← Older edit		Revision as of 01:56, 3 August 2025 view source Grady (talk \| contribs) 55 edits m →Base similarity relations: Minor tweak Tag: Visual edit Newer edit →
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	=== Base similarity relations ===		=== Base similarity relations ===
	Of course, the knowledge that harmonic similarity should follow this pseudo-transitive property isn't very helpful in determining which notes are harmonically similar without establishing some basic similarity relationships first. Essentially, two pitches have a basic similarity relation if the frequency of one is a low integer multiple of the other. The reason for this might be that we're highly accustomed to hearing harmonic timbres, so usually when we hear a note, we also somewhat prominently hear low integer multiples of that frequency as well, and this causes our brains to associate those higher harmonics as "similar" to the fundamental. The lower the integer multiple, the more prominently we hear it in those harmonic timbres, which corresponds to the fact that lower integer multiples represent stronger harmonic similarity relationships.		Of course, the knowledge that harmonic similarity should follow this pseudo-transitive property isn't very helpful in determining which notes are harmonically similar without establishing some basic similarity relationships first. Essentially, two pitches have a basic similarity relation if the frequency of one is a low integer multiple of the other. The reason for this might be that we're highly accustomed to hearing harmonic timbres, so usually when we hear a note, we also somewhat prominently hear low integer multiples of that frequency as well, and over time this causes our brains to associate those higher harmonics as "similar" to the fundamental. The lower the integer multiple, the more prominently we hear it in those harmonic timbres, which corresponds to the fact that lower integer multiples represent stronger harmonic similarity relationships.