Microtonality and Just Intonation (2011)
Undergraduate: Max Shepherd
Faculty Advisor: Stephen Anderson
Department: Applied Sciences
At the very foundation of the musical tuning systems we use are the mathematical relationships between pitches. The main purpose of this research was to explore the evolution of the tuning system in the western world, study "exotic" tuning systems from elsewhere, and even contemporary music written for specially tuned instruments, then create specially calculated and tuned fretboards for a guitar with an exchangeable fretboard system. Finally, a piece was written for a fretboard with a Harry Partch 43-tone scale.