You Are Reading the First 6 FREE Chapters (470 pages)

4.1.7
Evenly Spaced: An Equal Interval Scale that Sounds Terrible

So far, you’ve tried two different organizing principles to construct an agreeable-sounding scale

  • A scale of random notes—the experiment with the chalk marks on the cello fingerboard. Result? A brain-averse scale. Chaotic and completely “unmusical.”
  • A scale of notes related to each other by simple ratios of frequencies. Result? A brain-friendly scale. Clearly “musical,” beautiful- sounding. A scale consisting of a distinctive but uneven order of tones.

Now, just for good measure, try a third organizing principle: a completely regular, evenly-spaced order of tones.

Start at Middle C and divide the octave into seven equal intervals, for a total of eight notes (Figure 12 below). The lowest note is Middle C and the highest note is C above Middle C. All eight notes are spaced the same distance apart, frequencywise (37.4 Hz between each note).

No point in naming notes 2 through 7 because this scale is only theoretical.

And a good thing, too. Because, like the random scale of chalk-and-cello fame, this scale also sucks. It sounds terrible. (Figure 12):

Equal interval musical scale that sounds random and unpalatable to the human brain.

FIGURE 12 The “Eight-Note, Evenly Spaced, Seven-Equal-Interval” Scale

< Previous   Next >