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
Frequency
View all pitchterms →The number of sound-wave vibrations per second, measured in hertz, that determines how high or low a pitch sounds.
TuningThe process of adjusting an instrument so its pitches match a chosen reference standard.
IntervalThe distance in pitch between two notes.
CentsA logarithmic unit that divides each semitone into 100 equal parts, used for precise measurement of pitch intervals.
FundamentalThe lowest frequency in a harmonic series, perceived as the main pitch of a note.
Synonyms
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v1 · 10/04/2026Browse all terms →