[Harp-L] re: Ghost Notes and Equal Temperament

[Jonathan Ross <jross38@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

John Potts wrote:

"Actually, as i think about it, i should qualify my reply by saying  
that the difference tones/ghost notes produced by playing SPLIT  
INTERVALS on an ET harp sound good.. Jazmaan may well be correct  
about ghost notes produced by intervals other than split intervals. "

A difference tone is produced whenever two or more intervals are  
played simultaneously.  Any interval other than the octave on a 12- 
tone equal temperament (12TET) instrument will produce difference  
tones which have noticeable beats against the notes being played.   
The layout of the harmonica and what two non-unison notes are played  
will effect the degree of beating, but not whether beats exist and  
thus a degree of dissonance.


"I don't know about those. My focus has been solely on ghost notes  
generated by split intervals . Those do not sound gritty or  
dissonant. Actually, they sound sweeter than the chords do on an ET  
harp."


I wouldn't be surprised if it is the omission of the third in the  
chord itself that you are finding more pleasant, rather than the  
addition of the difference tone.  This is particularly true of major  
thirds in 12TET which tend to sound harsher than minor thirds (for  
whatever reason).




 ()()    JR "Bulldogge" Ross
()  ()
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