Listen to the same chord played on nine historical tuning systems here, and compare the sounds of each tuning system using this widget. Either use your mouse to navigate around the interface or try typing on your computer keyboard, it’ll go quicker.
The idea is to listen out for any intervals that sound very pure in particular tunings, where others seems to waver or beat.
How to Use the Tuning Widget
Next, select your tuning system on top line of buttons. These include traditional tunings like Pythagorean and Just Intonation, alongside the more common Equal Temperament used in today’s world. These is numbered one through nine; you can also just click button to change the tuning immediately without stopping any sound that may be playing. It will actualy glide to the new tuning if there is sound, enabling you to easily listen for difference.
Finally, choose which chord or interval you wish to hear. Below is a selection of easy triads, sevenths, and even a looping cadence that you can pick from by clicking on each chord shape in turn. Hit space bar on your computer keyboard to instantly change the sound, repeating all of them as you go. Click on note buttons for an immediate change, or use the up and down arrows to shift the tonic up or down through the chromatic scale. Each key will sound different in these historical well temperaments. In Equal Temperament, all keys sounds the same. The little numbers beneath the notes indicate purity of major third in this key.
To keep playing currently selected chord, hit big Play button. As it does so, experiment with changing the tuning systems and listen to what happen harmonically.
To directly compare two system head-to-head, hold down the Hold to hear B button to toggle to your alternate system. Release and you snap back to main one. Hitting the B key again changes which system you are comparing against.
With a little more information, the Wolf Finder panel show the least well-tuned interval in the current system. The worst third, or if there is no exact match, the worst fifth is highlighted. By clicking on Hear it, you can listen to just that interval, or click Pure to hear how it should of sound. This facility helps you find acoustic compromises that exist within each temperament.
Each note represents its deviation from Equal Temperament in the cents chart. Sharp notes are represented by a bar above line. Flat notes appear below the line. Tap on a bar and you’ll hear that degree against tonic.
The Beat Rate table indicate the speed at which the harmonic clashing occur with each interval. Smoother, more stable harmony is indicated by lower numbers.
You can use volume control on the right. The Reset button resets everything back to its default values and pauses playback. If you click on the Help tab, it will open the full description of system terms and keyboard shortcuts. A Fullscreen button opens the widget in fullscreen mode.
To try, press play. Swap to Equal Temperament then Just Intonation while holding down the Play button. You’ll hear the shimmering beats of the third. Switch to a well-tuning such as Vallotti and rotate the tonic around circle. Some keys is sweet; others are tense.
At the bottom is the Spot the Temperament game where we challenge your ear to name the system from the cadence. Try out various chords and hear what difference they make in the tuning. Major triads shows some compromise while minor triads and dominant sevenths show more obvious ones.
When you get used to the controls try using the keyboard shortcuts that allow faster exploration of the range. Have a listen and don’t be afraid as there is no wrong approach to this instrument.