Hi Martin, I thought I would answer your private question on the listserv--so that others might jump in to help explain: Martin asked >there are a several language problems. could you explain what >coincident partials >parials >Inharmonicity >contiguous Contiguous means that two intervals (usually thought of as the same size) share a note in common. For example these major thirds f3 to a3 : a3 to c#4 : c#4 to f4 Partials: Any note when played will sound at the fundimental and at other pitches based on the 1/2 length, the 1/3 length, 1/4, etc. so: a1 a2 e3 a3 c#4 e4 etc. coincident partials: When you play two notes together their partial series will often match at a higher partial than the fundimental. For example this major third has a contigiuous partial at: f3 f4 c4 f5 a5 a3 a4 d5 a5 This means the beating will be heard at a5 for the f3 a3 major third which corresponds to the ratio (rough numbers not totally accurate) 5:4 for a major 3rd. It is important to know the (rough) ratios of the various intervals. Unison is 1:1; octave 2:1, fifth 3:2, fourth 4:3, major 3rd 5:4; major 6th 5:3 and etc. Inharmonicity is a factor that causes the harmonic series of a note to be lower than the partial series. There seem to be more factors that affect inharmonicity than might be expected. For example in theory a note might have a harmonic series in hertz of: 100 200 300 400 500 But in real life it might be 100 201 305 416 535 And I wish I *could* explain inharmonicity fully--but so far no one has been able to totally understand it *grin*. We just deal with it Regards, Don Rose, B.Mus., A.M.U.S., A.MUS., R.M.T., R.P.T. Tuner for the Saskatchewan Centre of the Arts mailto:drose@dlcwest.com http://donrose.xoasis.com/ 3004 Grant Rd. REGINA, SK S4S 5G7 306-352-3620 or 1-888-29t-uner
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