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Tuning & pitch

Well temperament

What is well temperament? A clear definition from the tuning & pitch section of our glossary, with 12 related terms, tools to try and further reading.

Definition of Well temperament

In Western music theory, a well temperament (also good temperament, circular or circulating temperament) is a type of tempered tuning used for keyboard instruments of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. The term is modeled on the German word wohltemperiert. This word also appears in the title of J. S. Bach's famous composition "Das wohltemperierte Klavier", The Well-Tempered Clavier.

Related terms

Frequently asked questions

What is Well temperament?

In Western music theory, a well temperament (also good temperament, circular or circulating temperament) is a type of tempered tuning used for keyboard instruments of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries.

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