Math with Musescore

• Jul 3, 2023 - 16:24

I am studying Pythagorean arithmetic and would like to listen to my mathematics. However, this arithmetic is in whole numbers only. What options are there with Musescore?


Comments

Many properties in Musescore are whole numbers, including:
• TAB Fret numbers
• MIDI pitch numbers
• MIDI velocity numbers
• Measure numbers

In reply to by Rockhoven

A piano has around 88 notes in steps of semi-tones so you may struggle to find an instrument with 100+ whole-tones. Maybe you could work in pitch frequency with a unit of measure such as 1/10th Hz, so your whole number of 100 would be 100 x 1/10 = 10 Hz etc. Alternatively you could compress your tone range to fit an instrument's number of tones.

In reply to by yonah_ag

Basically, I need to know how to tune Musescore in whole numbers. Can I do this across the score or will I have to tune each individual note? I am wondering if someone has already done this and I can listen to their files? Ziya might have done something like this.

In reply to by Rockhoven

What do you mean by tune MuseScore in whole numbers? Sounds like you are expecting the software to create a piece. Or are you writing it yourself? So you can't use half steps.
As I understand it, whole tone scales have six notes. Wouldn't you use those notes, just as you would use the notes in any scale? Except you can't modulate. Or change keys.

In reply to by Rockhoven

As far as I know, MuseScore works with equal temperament. (Frequency factor: 12th root of 2).
So for Pythagorean tuning (or other variants) you will probably need to correct each note.
I think you know the necessary differences - if not, see: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pythagorean_tuning

See also the image https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pythagorean_tuning#/media/File:Music_inte… and the details of the image description for it.

Pythagorean arithmetic is only a special case of mathematics. I am interested in hearing my calculations. I would like to compose using a calculator, generating the tones mathematically directly into the score. I guess I can make my composition here in the forum, using math, but we won't be able to hear it.

I could call up the calculator and Musescore would store all of my calculations whether inside or outside of the audible range. Then I could also enter certain sums, factors, quotients and products into the score. I could look under the hood to see my calculations and understand how I arrived at a tone.

I don't want the technicians to decide what "sounds good" or not. So, if the mood strikes me I could begin with a Pythagorean triple (3, 4, 5.) Square those to 9, 16, 25, multiply or square them again to bring them up into the audible range and listen to them. In the case of 3, 4, 5, the transposition into the audible range might be 300, 400 500, or 900, 1600, 2500 or any other choice that I make.

This would allow me to figure the tones using Pythagorean arithmetic (whole numbers) or to divide octaves into equal or unequal parts, not only 12 equal parts, but as many equal parts as the calculator can handle.

This system would effectively encompass any and all systems of intonation. I don't need the 12 tone system. The problem is the range of sound fonts available. I would want to generate a wav file even at 1 hz or a fraction of a hz because it is a viewable wav when loaded to a DAW.

I am inspired by some things that Plato says about harmony in the Republic and in the Timaeus.

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