equal temperament

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equal temperament

n. Music

Modification of the intervals of just intonation in the tuning of instruments of fixed intonation to permit harmonic modulation. It allows one to modulate to or play in any of the 12 major or 12 minor keys.

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Noun

equal temperament - the division of the scale based on an octave that is divided into twelve exactly equal semitones; "equal temperament is the system commonly used in keyboard instruments"

temperament - an adjustment of the intervals (as in tuning a keyboard instrument) so that the scale can be used to play in different keys

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enharmonic
semitone
temperament

tempered
well-tempered
whole tone

How Equal Temperament Ruined Harmony: And Why You Should Care, by Ross.

How Equal Temperament Ruined Harmony: And Why You Should Care by Bales, Ken / American Music Teacher

The long, slowly modulating drones on Tony Conrad's box set Early Minimalism Volume One (Table of the Elements) are totally uncompromising, even if they do relax the listener over time; the electrified violins that produce the sounds attack tiny intervals across the audible spectrum with slightly wobbly intonation, never applicable to the equal temperament of the piano.

Temperament tempest by Ratliff, Ben / Artforum International

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