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Scale, Equal temperament, Pure major/pure minor – Yamaha 205M EN User Manual

Page 128: Pythagorean, Mean-tone, Werckmeister/kirnberger, Arabic

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Making Global and Other Important Settings — Function

CVP-205/203

128

Scale

Equal Temperament

The pitch range of each octave is divided equally into twelve parts, with each half-step evenly spaced in pitch. This
is the most commonly used tuning in music today.

Pure Major/Pure Minor

These tunings preserve the pure mathematical intervals of each scale, especially for triad chords (root, third, fifth).
You can hear this best in actual vocal harmonies — such as choirs and acapella singing.

Pythagorean

This scale was devised by the famous Greek philosopher and is created from a series of perfect fifths, which are
collapsed into a single octave. The 3rd in this tuning are slightly unstable, but the 4th and 5th are beautiful and
suitable for some leads.

Mean-Tone

This scale was created as an improvement on the Pythagorean scale, by making the major third interval more “in
tune.” It was especially popular from the 16th century to the 18th century. Handel, among others, used this scale.

Werckmeister/Kirnberger

This composite scale combines the Werckmeister and Kirnberger systems, which were themselves improvements on
the mean-tone and Pythagorean scales. The main feature of this scale is that each key has its own unique character.
The scale was used extensively during the time of Bach and Beethoven, and even now it is often used when
performing period music on the harpsichord.

Arabic

Use these tunings when playing Arabic music.

Pitch settings for each scale (in cents; example scale of C)
The values shown in this chart are actually rounded off to the nearest whole number for use on the instrument.

C

C

D

E

E

F

F

G

A

A

B

B

Equal Temperament

0

.0

0

.0

0

.0

0

.0

0

.0

0

.0

0

.0

0

.0

0

.0

0

.0

0

.0

0

.0

Pure Major

0

.0

-29.7

3.9

15.6

-14.1

-2.3

-9.4

2.3

-27.3

-15.6

18.0

-11.7

Pure Minor

0

.0

33.6

3.9

15.6

-14.1

-2.3

31.3

2.3

14.1

-15.6

18.0

-11.7

Pythagorean

0

.0

14.1

3.9

-6.3

7.8

-2.3

11.7

2.3

15.6

6.3

-3.9

10.2

Mean-Tone

0

.0

-24.2

-7.0

10.2

-14.1

3.1

-20.3

-3.1

-27.3

-10.2

7.0

-17.2

Werckmeister

0

.0

-10.2

-7.8

-6.3

-10.2

-2.3

-11.7

-3.9

-7.8

-11.7

-3.9

-7.8

Kirnberger

0

.0

-10.2

-7.0

-6.3

-14.1

-2.3

-10.2

-3.1

-7.8

-10.2

-3.9

-11.7

Arabic1

0

.0

0

-50

.0

0

.0

0

.0

0

.0

0

.0

0

.0

0

.0

-50

.0

0

.0

0

.0

Arabic2

0

.0

0

0

.0

0

.0

-50

.0

0

.0

0

.0

0

.0

0

.0

0

.0

0

.0

-50

.0

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