Scaler
Explore equal octave divisions and microtonal tuning
Compare familiar octave divisions with microtonal tunings, or hear what happens when one ratio is stacked repeatedly.
Key idea
An octave doubles a frequency. Dividing it into equal steps means multiplying by the same ratio at each step, rather than adding a fixed number of hertz. Different divisions provide different sets of available intervals.
Try this first
Begin with twelve equal divisions of the octave, then compare a different number of divisions. Listen to adjacent pitches before trying larger jumps. Equal divisions repeat at the octave; repeatedly stacking a chosen ratio is a different construction and does not necessarily close at the octave.
How to get started
- Choose a root note or frequency.
- Select the octave division available in your version and play the resulting notes.
- Compare the spacing and sound; use full access to explore more tuning settings.
Explore a little further
Try another experiment
Compare successive steps near the beginning and end of an equal-division scale. Listen to their spacing and inspect their frequencies. Equal pitch steps do not have equal differences in hertz.
Good to know
A tuning system describes pitch relationships. A visual resemblance between two patterns does not make them the same tuning. Lite includes selected options rather than every configuration.
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