Re: [MMM] Some ideas for microtonal guitars & software

He probably wants to play a real guitar. Btw, I'm pretty sure the Manyguitar softsynth is microtonal.

Joe

----- Original Message ----
From: djtrancendance <djtrancendance@...>
To: MakeMicroMusic@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Thursday, September 21, 2006 12:50:01 PM
Subject: [MMM] Some ideas for microtonal guitars & software

I don't have any experience with making instruments. ..but logic
tells me that, rather than using exchangable necks & the like to
play different tunings there is a more obvious solution (regardless
of what type/thickness/ strength of strings are available to you):

Make each fret adjustable, and (for live performances for
musicians seeking multiple tunings) make a programmable fret-shifter
that is told each fret position (and locks its sliders on to it) and
then moves it to the desired positions. This way changing scales
will be as simple as clicking a "from" preset button and "to" preset
button.

Another issue I see that could make micro music a LOT easier is
the use of a tonally-capable synth. It would use an underlying
consonance algorithm, like Bill's, to judge consonance between all
notes in a chord and move each note in the chord to the nearest note
that would produce the same or less as a 12-tet chord.
And in addition use instruments with timber that match the pre-
existing tunings harmonically (Bill has theory for this and software
for timber-to-harmonic- matching- scales, but I have yet to see
software for scales-to-matching- timber released).
There are such wonderful technologies and theoretic discoveries
available we really have no reason to blame instrument architecture
for barring us from microtonal capabilities.

Why would this be important?

Well, let's face it, much of the public has come up with the
misconception that microtonal music is less consonant than 12 note
equal temperment chromatic (when, especially considering JI, this is
a lie)...and that microtonal music HAS to be harder to listen to in
that sense than 12-tet.

Along with this is the myth that learning the new theories
associated with it would be overkill for trained musicians and
nullify any value of their training (including ear training/"perfect
pitch")...so it becomes an unnecessary ego issue.

Such software would eliminate to consonance/pop- markettability
issues...and, when this happens, software synth and guitar
manufacturers will be encouraged to go microtonal for
profitability. This could be an only mildly long-term end to
our "emerging (music) technology" problem, and it sure beats doing
the Beethoven thing and having people figure out you were right long
after you died. :-P

-Michael

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