User:Grady/Harmonic similarity: Difference between revisions

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Harmonic similarity is a measure of how similar in harmonic function two pitches are. This is in contrast to consonance or concordance, which is generally defined as a measure of how harmonious or stable two or more pitches sound when played together, or perhaps less commonly a measure of how much timbral fusion occurs when playing them together.

Often, harmonic similarity between two notes correlates very strongly with perceived consonance: for example, two notes an ~~[[2/1|~~octave]] apart are both highly consonant with each other and highly similar to each other. However, this is not always the case. For instance, two notes a [[9/8|major second]] apart are more harmonically similar to each other than two notes a [[5/4|major third]] apart, but typically less consonant when played simultaneously. I'll be elaborating more on what I mean by this, but it aligns with how Western music theory would approach the question: two notes a major second apart are more closely related via the [[Chain of fifths|circle of fifths]].

The concept of harmonic similarity is a generalization of octave equivalence: two notes that are some number of [[2/1|octaves]] apart will be considered highly harmonically similar, but there are other pairs of notes that are harmonically similar to a lesser degree, such as two notes a [[3/1|tritave]] apart.

Often, harmonic similarity between two notes correlates very strongly with perceived consonance: for example, two notes an octave apart are both highly consonant with each other and highly similar to each other. However, this is not always the case. For instance, two notes a [[9/8|major second]] apart are more harmonically similar to each other than two notes a [[5/4|major third]] apart, but typically less consonant when played simultaneously. I'll be elaborating more on what I mean by this, but it aligns with how Western music theory would approach the question: two notes a major second apart are more closely related via the [[Chain of fifths|circle of fifths]].

== Definition ==

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 Harmonic similarity is a measure of how similar in harmonic function two pitches are. This is in contrast to consonance or concordance, which is generally defined as a measure of how harmonious or stable two or more pitches sound when played together, or perhaps less commonly a measure of how much timbral fusion occurs when playing them together.
-Often, harmonic similarity between two notes correlates very strongly with perceived consonance: for example, two notes an [[2/1|octave]] apart are both highly consonant with each other and highly similar to each other. However, this is not always the case. For instance, two notes a [[9/8|major second]] apart are more harmonically similar to each other than two notes a [[5/4|major third]] apart, but typically less consonant when played simultaneously. I'll be elaborating more on what I mean by this, but it aligns with how Western music theory would approach the question: two notes a major second apart are more closely related via the [[Chain of fifths|circle of fifths]].
+The concept of harmonic similarity is a generalization of octave equivalence: two notes that are some number of [[2/1|octaves]] apart will be considered highly harmonically similar, but there are other pairs of notes that are harmonically similar to a lesser degree, such as two notes a [[3/1|tritave]] apart.
+Often, harmonic similarity between two notes correlates very strongly with perceived consonance: for example, two notes an octave apart are both highly consonant with each other and highly similar to each other. However, this is not always the case. For instance, two notes a [[9/8|major second]] apart are more harmonically similar to each other than two notes a [[5/4|major third]] apart, but typically less consonant when played simultaneously. I'll be elaborating more on what I mean by this, but it aligns with how Western music theory would approach the question: two notes a major second apart are more closely related via the [[Chain of fifths|circle of fifths]].
 == Definition ==