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Tuning & pitch

Just intonation

What is just intonation? A clear definition from the tuning & pitch section of our glossary, with 13 related terms, tools to try and further reading.

Definition of Just intonation

Just intonation is the tuning of a musical interval without beats. The result is an acoustically pure sound that resonates within the harmonic series. The simplest relationship between pitches in this series can be expressed as small whole number ratios. Musicians around the world instinctively perform in just intonation.

Just intonation also describes any musical tuning system containing five or more pure intervals within an octave. Elaborate theories and instruments have been constructed in pursuit of a just intonation system that is fully chromatic.

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What is Just intonation?

Just intonation is the tuning of a musical interval without beats. The result is an acoustically pure sound that resonates within the harmonic series. The simplest relationship between pitches in this series can be expressed as small whole number ratios.

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