General discussion

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Thoughts on where this wiki could/should/will go: [[wikifuture]]. Discuss as needed. There's also some [[wiki help]].

=A guide to learning about tunings on the Internet= 

Congratulations! You are curious about a field of study which has probably been hidden from you your entire life!

==Detwelvulate yourself== 

The [[MicrotonalListeningList]] is a great start for hearing what microtonal music sounds like. But, you probably got to this point by wanting a different kind of music, and will only get so far by listening to existing works.

Many early 20th century proponents of 19-tone equal temperament never got a chance to hear the tuning of their dreams. One such proponent, upon finally hearing it, completely lost his enthusiasm [CITATION NEEDED]. The point is, we are lucky to be living in a time when exploring different tunings can be done quickly and without much effort.

If you have a computer but don't really speak its language, it may take some time and effort to find a tool best suited to your purposes. See the [[Software]] page for recommendations.

==Skepticism in the rabbit hole== 

The study of ways to tune has a vast history, and a greater variety of work is being done now than ever before. We live in an exciting time! However, the internet's tendency to allow misinformation to prevail is [[http://whatstheharm.net/internetmisinformation.html|well documented]] (//assuming you believe the documentation!//), and is actually nothing new in the world of tuning theory.

I (xenjacob) advise an attitude of skepticism. Specifically one which asks
# What interest is advanced when we speak that way?
# What is //not// being said? What words do these point to that they are not? What's being avoided? What distinctions are being drawn?
# In what (reference) system do we say this?

These questions will get you through most life-or-death tuning situations.

==Tools, not Rules== 

Most tuning-related claims are traces of someone wanting something. It is good to remember that you may want something different, and may need to generate new language to describe it (or at least remember it).


Note how **neologisms** have been rampant in tuning theory. See, for example, [[The Archipelago]]. These are best read as proposals, to be tried out, used only insofar as they are found useful (for doing what you want to do, which is probably making music of some kind).

Remember, **this is not Wikipedia**. Original research is encouraged, and definitions are in flux. The aim may not even be an objective truth, but an artful or seductive one.

If you see something missing, add it. If you see something inaccurate, edit it. If you see something potentially controversial, figure out how to preserve the differences. If you see something boring, add some cayenne pepper!

==Appendix: A different framework for talking about talking== 

Many speakers unknowingly claim a great dichotomy between 'talking' and 'doing something'. In doing so they exclude the possibility that talking could be itself doing //something//, that making a change in the language //could// affect reality, or at least our way of relating to it.

Invoking [[http://www.marxists.org/subject/education/freire/pedagogy/ch03.htm|Paolo Friere]] ([[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paulo_Freire|Wikipedia article]]) (whom I, xenjacob, recommend), //mere// action is just as undesirable as //mere// words. They need each other!

=Join the conversation!= 

Some find it encouraging.

[[http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/tuning/|Yahoo tuning list]] - the oldest mailing list about tuning. If you ask a good question, you will receive some good answers. A large membership means potential for a huge variety of voices, which has been sometimes squelched by over-posting by the [[tuning regulars|"regulars"]]. For a hand-selected digest, see [[tuning list reviews]]

[[http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/tuning-math/|Yahoo tuning-math list]] - An outgrowth of [tuning], a haven for the math-savvy. Much of [[contemporary temperament theory]] was developed by people here.

[[http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/MakeMicroMusic/|Yahoo MakeMicroMusic list]] - Another outgrowth of [tuning], in the direction of, let's hear some music! The emphasis is on sharing original microtonal music, which sometimes unfortunately devolves into endless tech-talk.

[[http://www.nonoctave.com/forum/|nonoctave forum]] - A forum on XJ Scott's website, frequented by some of the more hermit-prone microtonalists.

[[http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2229924481&v=wall|"Xenharmonic Alliance" group on Facebook]]

Original HTML content:

<html><head><title>GeneralDiscussion</title></head><body>Thoughts on where this wiki could/should/will go: <a class="wiki_link" href="/wikifuture">wikifuture</a>. Discuss as needed. There's also some <a class="wiki_link" href="/wiki%20help">wiki help</a>.<br />
<br />
<!-- ws:start:WikiTextHeadingRule:0:&lt;h1&gt; --><h1 id="toc0"><a name="A guide to learning about tunings on the Internet"></a><!-- ws:end:WikiTextHeadingRule:0 -->A guide to learning about tunings on the Internet</h1>
 <br />
Congratulations! You are curious about a field of study which has probably been hidden from you your entire life!<br />
<br />
<!-- ws:start:WikiTextHeadingRule:2:&lt;h2&gt; --><h2 id="toc1"><a name="A guide to learning about tunings on the Internet-Detwelvulate yourself"></a><!-- ws:end:WikiTextHeadingRule:2 -->Detwelvulate yourself</h2>
 <br />
The <a class="wiki_link" href="/MicrotonalListeningList">MicrotonalListeningList</a> is a great start for hearing what microtonal music sounds like. But, you probably got to this point by wanting a different kind of music, and will only get so far by listening to existing works.<br />
<br />
Many early 20th century proponents of 19-tone equal temperament never got a chance to hear the tuning of their dreams. One such proponent, upon finally hearing it, completely lost his enthusiasm [CITATION NEEDED]. The point is, we are lucky to be living in a time when exploring different tunings can be done quickly and without much effort.<br />
<br />
If you have a computer but don't really speak its language, it may take some time and effort to find a tool best suited to your purposes. See the <a class="wiki_link" href="/Software">Software</a> page for recommendations.<br />
<br />
<!-- ws:start:WikiTextHeadingRule:4:&lt;h2&gt; --><h2 id="toc2"><a name="A guide to learning about tunings on the Internet-Skepticism in the rabbit hole"></a><!-- ws:end:WikiTextHeadingRule:4 -->Skepticism in the rabbit hole</h2>
 <br />
The study of ways to tune has a vast history, and a greater variety of work is being done now than ever before. We live in an exciting time! However, the internet's tendency to allow misinformation to prevail is <a class="wiki_link_ext" href="http://whatstheharm.net/internetmisinformation.html" rel="nofollow">well documented</a> (<em>assuming you believe the documentation!</em>), and is actually nothing new in the world of tuning theory.<br />
<br />
I (xenjacob) advise an attitude of skepticism. Specifically one which asks<br />
<ol><li>What interest is advanced when we speak that way?</li><li>What is <em>not</em> being said? What words do these point to that they are not? What's being avoided? What distinctions are being drawn?</li><li>In what (reference) system do we say this?</li></ol><br />
These questions will get you through most life-or-death tuning situations.<br />
<br />
<!-- ws:start:WikiTextHeadingRule:6:&lt;h2&gt; --><h2 id="toc3"><a name="A guide to learning about tunings on the Internet-Tools, not Rules"></a><!-- ws:end:WikiTextHeadingRule:6 -->Tools, not Rules</h2>
 <br />
Most tuning-related claims are traces of someone wanting something. It is good to remember that you may want something different, and may need to generate new language to describe it (or at least remember it).<br />
<br />
<br />
Note how <strong>neologisms</strong> have been rampant in tuning theory. See, for example, <a class="wiki_link" href="/The%20Archipelago">The Archipelago</a>. These are best read as proposals, to be tried out, used only insofar as they are found useful (for doing what you want to do, which is probably making music of some kind).<br />
<br />
Remember, <strong>this is not Wikipedia</strong>. Original research is encouraged, and definitions are in flux. The aim may not even be an objective truth, but an artful or seductive one.<br />
<br />
If you see something missing, add it. If you see something inaccurate, edit it. If you see something potentially controversial, figure out how to preserve the differences. If you see something boring, add some cayenne pepper!<br />
<br />
<!-- ws:start:WikiTextHeadingRule:8:&lt;h2&gt; --><h2 id="toc4"><a name="A guide to learning about tunings on the Internet-Appendix: A different framework for talking about talking"></a><!-- ws:end:WikiTextHeadingRule:8 -->Appendix: A different framework for talking about talking</h2>
 <br />
Many speakers unknowingly claim a great dichotomy between 'talking' and 'doing something'. In doing so they exclude the possibility that talking could be itself doing <em>something</em>, that making a change in the language <em>could</em> affect reality, or at least our way of relating to it.<br />
<br />
Invoking <a class="wiki_link_ext" href="http://www.marxists.org/subject/education/freire/pedagogy/ch03.htm" rel="nofollow">Paolo Friere</a> (<a class="wiki_link_ext" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paulo_Freire" rel="nofollow">Wikipedia article</a>) (whom I, xenjacob, recommend), <em>mere</em> action is just as undesirable as <em>mere</em> words. They need each other!<br />
<br />
<!-- ws:start:WikiTextHeadingRule:10:&lt;h1&gt; --><h1 id="toc5"><a name="Join the conversation!"></a><!-- ws:end:WikiTextHeadingRule:10 -->Join the conversation!</h1>
 <br />
Some find it encouraging.<br />
<br />
<a class="wiki_link_ext" href="http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/tuning/" rel="nofollow">Yahoo tuning list</a> - the oldest mailing list about tuning. If you ask a good question, you will receive some good answers. A large membership means potential for a huge variety of voices, which has been sometimes squelched by over-posting by the <a class="wiki_link" href="/tuning%20regulars">&quot;regulars&quot;</a>. For a hand-selected digest, see <a class="wiki_link" href="/tuning%20list%20reviews">tuning list reviews</a><br />
<br />
<a class="wiki_link_ext" href="http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/tuning-math/" rel="nofollow">Yahoo tuning-math list</a> - An outgrowth of [tuning], a haven for the math-savvy. Much of <a class="wiki_link" href="/contemporary%20temperament%20theory">contemporary temperament theory</a> was developed by people here.<br />
<br />
<a class="wiki_link_ext" href="http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/MakeMicroMusic/" rel="nofollow">Yahoo MakeMicroMusic list</a> - Another outgrowth of [tuning], in the direction of, let's hear some music! The emphasis is on sharing original microtonal music, which sometimes unfortunately devolves into endless tech-talk.<br />
<br />
<a class="wiki_link_ext" href="http://www.nonoctave.com/forum/" rel="nofollow">nonoctave forum</a> - A forum on XJ Scott's website, frequented by some of the more hermit-prone microtonalists.<br />
<br />
<a class="wiki_link_ext" href="http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2229924481&amp;v=wall" rel="nofollow">&quot;Xenharmonic Alliance&quot; group on Facebook</a></body></html>