Temperament
A tuning system that determines how the twelve pitches within an octave are spaced.
Category
pitch
Origin
Latin
Length
179 words · 1 min read
About Temperament
Temperament addresses a fundamental mathematical problem: pure intervals derived from the harmonic series cannot all be perfectly in tune simultaneously across every key. Different temperament systems resolve this by distributing small tuning compromises in various ways.
More pitch terms
Overtone
View all pitchterms →A higher frequency that sounds simultaneously above a fundamental pitch, shaping the tone colour of a note.
RegisterA particular range or portion of the pitch spectrum available to a voice or instrument.
FrequencyThe number of sound-wave vibrations per second, measured in hertz, that determines how high or low a pitch sounds.
Transposing InstrumentAn instrument whose notated pitch differs from the actual sounding pitch it produces.
RisonamentoA rarely used Italian term for the sustained resonance produced by sympathetic vibration between strings
Synonyms
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v1 · 10/04/2026Browse all terms →