Bamburg True Temperament

[roberts]

Originally Posted by Matt Mustapick

Presumably some voicings and inversions will be more consonant than equal temperament and others less so? What is the harmonic strategy of its divergence from the compromise of equal temperament?

I was going to ask the exact same question

[JBam]

Originally Posted by Matt Mustapick

Presumably some voicings and inversions will be more consonant than equal temperament and others less so? What is the harmonic strategy of its divergence from the compromise of equal temperament?

I have copied the following from the True Temperament website. Paul says it much better that I can. I will be using the Thidell Formula 1.

"Well Tempered
Up until now, the guitar has always been shackled to equal temper, as this is the only practical alternative when you have twelve straight frets to the octave. But the equal tempered scale is far from being the one and only way to divide the octave into semitones - many hundreds of different temperaments have been documented through the centuries. The True Temperament system finally makes it possible for the guitarist to explore alternative, very musical-sounding temperaments. (The majority of modern keyboards and music software programs have this ability to switch temperaments built in - but sadly, few users ever make use of this feature.) Some of the most interesting of these temperaments are so-called "Well Tempered" schemes.

Well Tempered tunings are designed to favour different key signatures to different degrees. In the favoured keys, intervals tune closer to the natural tone row than in equal temperament, which improves consonance and reduces intermodulation and beating. The price for this is that consonance in the lesser-used keys is sacrificed a little. The best well-tempered schemes make all keys usable, however, with a good balance of tonal colours.

We offer two different Well temperaments. Which one you choose depends mostly on which keys you want to favour most.

Thidell Formula 1
If you mostly play in "guitar keys" then Thidell Formula 1 is for you. Formula 1 is specifically designed for the guitar. It is optimised for all the standard open and barre chord patterns. Major keys in Formula 1 which sound closer to the natural tone row are: E, F#, G, A, B, C, D. Minor keys which sound closer to the natural tone row are: E, F#, Ab, A, B, Eb.

Die Wohltemperirte Gitarre
If you play a lot of "jazz" chords, in key signatures which brass players tend to favour, Die Wohltemperirte Gitarre is an excellent choice. Major keys in "Wohl" which sound closer to the natural tone row are: F, G, Bb, C, D. Minor keys which sound closer to the natural tone row are: E, F#, Ab, A, B, D."

[JBam]

[Matt Mustapick]

Got it. Formula 1 will be most consonant with chords that follow the shape of the root-on-sting-5 A major open chord. I've never felt "shackled" by equal temperament, it's quite liberating. But as they say, vive la difference! What's old is new again. I bet it will sound beautiful.

[JBam]

[JBam]

[JBam]

[JBam]