just tuning

["Vern Smith" <jevern@xxxxxxx>]

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- ----- Original Message -----
From: "gary" <garybond@xxxxxxx>
.
> The reason I'm interested is that I find that I'm doing more chording =
in
my
> playing and my LO's don't sound that good. I have a couple of Special =
20's
> that sound better, so I'm just wondering if these 1923's sound even =
better
at
> chording? And is there any trade off's with this?

This brings up a question about tunings.  I think that I know the =
answer,
but maybe Pat Missin can give the definite answer.

Is it not true that just tuning produces slightly different pitches in =
every
key?  If true, this means that a harp can have just tuning only in the
first-position key stamped on the cover?  Doesn't this mean that when =
you
play it in any other position/key that you don't have just tuning any =
more?

Just tuning is the reason barbershop and string quartets sound so good,
because the instruments used (voice and strings) can be tuned by the =
ears of
the players who automatically use just regardless of the key.

Tempered/equal (twelfth-root-of-two) tuning is a compromise that doesn't
sound quite as good in any key as just but does sound the same in all =
keys?
Thus just tuning is the obvious choice for any instrument that uses =
fixed
pitches and is played in all keys.

It would seem possible to have an electronic keyboard that could adjust =
the
pitches to give just tuning in any key.  You would only have to push a
button to tell it which key to tune to.

Vern