EQUAL TEMPERAMENT & JUST INTONATION
EQUAL TEMPERAMENT: This is the system of tuning in all Western European instruments, such as the piano, and measured by modern tuners. This tuning system was built by splitting up the octave into twelve notes and having the distance between each note be 100 cents. This tuning is very accurate in all twelve key signatures, but certain chords still sound out of tune.
JUST INTONATION: This system of tuning uses a series of adjustments to perfectly tune any chord. This system of tuning allows us to predict and make micro adjustments to chords to get rid of the "beats" or "pulses" that occur when an interval is out of tune.
JUST INTONATION: This system of tuning uses a series of adjustments to perfectly tune any chord. This system of tuning allows us to predict and make micro adjustments to chords to get rid of the "beats" or "pulses" that occur when an interval is out of tune.
CHORDS OF JUST INTONATION
When playing in an ensemble, every musician should always strive for good intonation. Everyone in the ensemble is responsible for adjusting, listening, and balancing with the rest of the ensemble. In the previous lesson, we learned how to predict pitch tendencies for certain notes on the instruments. The same pitch tendencies can be used used when playing a chord. The chart below will allow you to predict how to tune chords with Just Intonation.
Using Tonal Energy & Just Intonation
The Tonal Energy app has the ability to switch between Equal Temperament and Just Intonation. Reference the video below to learn how to use the Tonal Energy app to practice tuning with Just Intonation.
Tuning Exercises
Tuning Major Chords
The exercises below will focus on using the concept of Just Intonation to tune a concert Bb major chord. To tune a major chord, the 3rd should be slightly flat and the 5th raised. Play-along videos are provided to the right of every exercise.
I-IV-V-I Progression in Bb, Eb, and F.
Now that you are aware of how to tune a major chord with just intonation, it's time to practice tuning major chord in a chord progression.
Feel free to pick any voicing for your instrument. Remember to use your ear to hear the "beats" or "pulses" and adjust accordingly. There are eight clicks before the exercise starts in each play along track. Feel free to play any part below, but for ideal voicings of the chorales, you can use the list to the right to play these chord progressions with three other musicians.
Feel free to pick any voicing for your instrument. Remember to use your ear to hear the "beats" or "pulses" and adjust accordingly. There are eight clicks before the exercise starts in each play along track. Feel free to play any part below, but for ideal voicings of the chorales, you can use the list to the right to play these chord progressions with three other musicians.
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Suggested Part Assignments
Soprano Trumpet Alto Trumpet Horn in F Tenor Horn in F Trombone Euphonium Bass Trombone Euphonium Tuba |
Tuning Minor Chords
The exercises below will focus on using the concept of Just Intonation to tune major and minor chords.
To tune a MAJOR chord, the 3rd should be slightly FLAT and the 5th raised.
To tune a MINOR chord, the 3rd should be slightly SHARP and the 5th raised.
Feel free to pick any voicing for your instrument. Remember to use your ear to hear the "beats" or "pulses".
Play along with the play along-track. There are eight clicks before the exercise starts in the play-along tracks.
To tune a MAJOR chord, the 3rd should be slightly FLAT and the 5th raised.
To tune a MINOR chord, the 3rd should be slightly SHARP and the 5th raised.
Feel free to pick any voicing for your instrument. Remember to use your ear to hear the "beats" or "pulses".
Play along with the play along-track. There are eight clicks before the exercise starts in the play-along tracks.
Major and Minor Chord Progressions in Bb, Eb, and F
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Suggested Part Assignments
Soprano Trumpet Alto Trumpet Horn in F Tenor Horn in F Trombone Euphonium Bass Trombone Euphonium Tuba |
Chorales
We are now ready to apply these concepts to musical excerpts. Click the button below to practice tuning major and minor chords over musical excerpts from Harkstow Grange and Salvation is Created.