source file: mills2.txt Date: Sun, 27 Apr 1997 21:44:49 -0700 Subject: commas in equal temperaments From: Aline Surman Paul...I've been playing 34 tone eq temp for a while now, and it is known for it's comma. In fact, let's get that out of the way: there is nothing "pseudo" about this comma, it's just using the term for an equal tempered phenomenon rather than a pure tuning situation. As long as the difference is made clear, comma will suffice. Anyway, here's what happens in 34...first, if you take an E major chord in 34, and then a G major, the B note will NOT be the same note in both chords; they are different by 1 increment. This is a hoot, and I don't agree with Morrison that this comma is either an error, or something to be avoided; I am learning to embrace it, work with it...the results are totally unique. It is a challenge, to be sure, but the vistas are pretty exciting. Next, there are 2 separate circles of 5ths in 34, as well as 2 different whole steps, one representing 10/9, and the other 9/8. The major and minor 3rds are only about 2 cents from pure, the 5th is about 4 cents sharp, and the ratios 49/48, 25/24, 17/16, 13/12, 20/17, and many others are mighty close to pure. People have called it the just intonated equal temp for good reasons, and I think it is a good direction to pursue. I am composing on both electric and acoustic guitars with 34; there's a lot going on with this system. Feel free to post me privately if you have other comments. Also, there's a misunderstanding about Brian Carlson's post concerning his guitars...one is 19 eq, and the other is 18 unequal; this is the one that Rankin helped design. So, all you guys who were wondering about the ratios, it's 18...Hstick Received: from ns.ezh.nl [137.174.112.59] by vbv40.ezh.nl with SMTP-OpenVMS via TCP/IP; Mon, 28 Apr 1997 11:04 +0200 Received: by ns.ezh.nl; (5.65v3.2/1.3/10May95) id AA32303; Mon, 28 Apr 1997 11:04:55 +0200 Received: from ella.mills.edu by ns (smtpxd); id XA32197 Received: from by ella.mills.edu via SMTP (940816.SGI.8.6.9/930416.SGI) id CAA08088; Mon, 28 Apr 1997 02:03:10 -0700 Date: Mon, 28 Apr 1997 02:03:10 -0700 Message-Id: Errors-To: madole@mills.edu Reply-To: tuning@ella.mills.edu Originator: tuning@eartha.mills.edu Sender: tuning@ella.mills.edu