Meantone temperament is a musical temperament, which is a system of musical tuning. In general, a meantone is constructed the same way as Pythagorean tuning, as a stack of perfect fifths, but in meantone, each fifth is narrow compared to the ratio 27/12:1 used in 12 equal temperament. The meantone temperament:
- generates all non-octave intervals from a stack of tempered perfect fifths; and
- by choosing an appropriate size for major and minor thirds, tempers the syntonic comma to unison.
Quarter-comma meantone is the best known type of meantone temperament, and the term meantone temperament is often used to refer to it specifically.
Read more about Meantone Temperament: Meantone Temperaments, Wolf Intervals, Extended Meantones, Use of Meantone Temperament, New Uses of Meantone Tunings
Famous quotes containing the word temperament:
“It is cowardly to fly from natural duties and take up those that suit our taste or temperament better; but it is also unwise to take an exaggerated view of personal duties, which shuts out the proper care of the mind and body entrusted to us.”
—Ellen Henrietta Swallow Richards (1842–1911)