Here is a puzzle: how many ways are there to tune a piano using just intonation? The answer will of course depend on the exact rules.
- All octaves are perfect: C5 is twice the frequency of C4, etc.
- A4 is fixed to 440 Hz.
- Each note must be tuned to at least one other note by a just interval, one of
- an octave 2:1
- a perfect fifth 3:2
- a perfect fourth 4:3
- a major third 5:4
- a minor third 6:5
- a major sixth 5:3
- a minor sixth 8:5
- these interval relationships must correspond to convention. E.g. if E is linked to C by an just interval, that interval must be a major third.
- there must be a path of these just intervals connecting any two notes
The diagram above provides a hint that the number of ways to tune a piano with just intonation is likely quite large. Writing a bit of software to enumerate the possibilities shouldn't be too difficult...
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