Yahoo Tuning Groups Ultimate Backup tuning Earth Tones, The Schumann Resonance Tuning

It has been asked by my dear and wonderfully talented friend, Mary
Ackerley, to create a tuning based on the Schumann Resonances. Below
is my humble offering.

First, by way of introduction, let's take a look at the basic
concepts of the Schumann Resonances from a couple of different
websites:

http://www.oulu.fi/~spaceweb/textbook/schumann.html

"Between the nearly perfectly conducting terrestrial surface and
ionosphere, a resonating cavity is formed. Broadband electromagnetic
impulses, like those from lightning flashes, fill this cavity, and
create globally the so-called Schumann resonances at frequencies 5 -
50 Hz (Schumann, 1952; Bliokh et al., 1980; Sentman, 1987). The
nominal average frequencies observed are 7.8, 14, 20, 26, 33, 39, and
45 Hz with slight diurnal variation."

And from:

http://www.innerx.net/personal/tsmith/Schumann.html

"If you look at the interior of the Earth, you see that there is a
differential physical rotation of the solid inner core with respect
to the surface of the Earth. However, it takes about 400 years for
the inner core to make a complete revolution inside the Earth, so
that its frequency is only one cycle per 400 years.

It is more interesting to look at the frequency of currents at the
boundary between the solid inner core and the liquid outer core.
Since the inner core has radius of about 1,200 kilometers, its
circumference is about 7,500 kilometers.

How long would it take an electrical current, traveling at the speed
of light (300,000 km/sec), to go once around the circumference of the
inner core (7,500 km)?

That is about 7,500 km / 300,000 km/sec, or 1/40 sec.

In other words, the natural frequency of the Earth at the boundary of
the inner core is about 40 cycles/sec, which is at the upper end of
the range of frequencies measured for the Schumann resonances:
7.8, 14, 20, 26, 33, 39 and 45 Hertz.

Therefore, the Schumann resonance frequencies correspond to the range
of natural frequencies of the Earth
from its surface to the boundary of its solid inner core."

Earth Tones,
The Schumann Resonance Tuning:

If we wish to create a tuning which will allow us to harmonize with
the frequencies of the Earth, we can take the nominal average
frequencies of the Schumann Resonance spectrum, and turn them into a
scale by converting the frequency ratios into cents, thusly:

Hz Ratios Cents Consecutive
7.8
14 1.7949 1012.657
20 1.4286 617.488 395.169
26 1.3000 454.214 163.274
33 1.2692 412.745 41.469
39 1.1818 289.210 123.536
45 1.1538 247.741 41.469

It is interesting to notice here the occurrence of two intervals at
41.469 cents, lying between the 4th and 5th, and 6th and 7th
harmonics of the spectra.

After sorting we can see that the approximated ratios are:

Ratio Cents
15/13 247.741
13/11 289.210
33/26 412.745
13/10 454.214
10/7 617.488
70/39 1012.657

One can easily see the exciting fact, that the "Chord of the Earth"
is of the 13 Prime Limit. It is remarkable how closely the averaged
nominal frequencies of the Schumann Resonance spectrum are
approximated by the 13 limit.

Using the Spectral Tempering technique I have basically outlined in a
past post, we will fill in the scale gaps to achieve the needed
chromatic semitones, giving us the below scale with 2 step sizes.
Please note that I have extended the scale to the approximate octave:

Schumann Resonance Tuning

Degree Cents Consecutive
0 0
3 61.9353 61.9353
5 103.2254 41.2902
8 165.1607 61.9353
10 206.4509 41.2902
12 247.7411 41.2902
14 289.0312 41.2902
17 350.9665 61.9353
20 412.9018 61.9353
22 454.1919 41.2902
25 516.1272 61.9353
27 557.4174 41.2902
30 619.3526 61.9353
32 660.6428 41.2902
34 701.9330 41.2902
37 763.8682 61.9353
39 805.1584 41.2902
42 867.0937 61.9353
45 929.0289 61.9353
47 970.3191 41.2902
49 1011.6093 41.2902
52 1073.5446 61.9353
54 1114.8347 41.2902
57 1176.7700 61.9353
59 1218.0602 41.2902

Since this scale is made up of 2 sizes of small semitones,
let's "ventilate" the above scale, where we will derive a mode with
fewer chromatic steps, which will leave the primary pitches of the
Schumann Resonance spectrum in place, as follows:

Schumann Resonance, 14 Tone Mode
Degree Cents Consecutive
0 0
3 61.9353 61.9353
8 165.1607 103.2254
12 247.7411 82.5804
14 289.0312 41.2902
20 412.9018 123.8705
22 454.1919 41.2902
25 516.1272 61.9353
30 619.3526 103.2254
34 701.9330 82.5804
39 805.1584 103.2254
45 929.0289 123.8705
49 1011.6093 82.5804
54 1114.8347 103.2254
59 1218.0601 103.2254

One final point, is that if we wish to make our tuning be in harmony
with the frequencies of the Earth, then we must make our tuning be in
a multiple of the 7.8 Hz frequency which we have treated here as our
1/1 ratio. Interestingly, we find that by doubling this value and
raising it by octaves into the audible range of human hearing, that
low and behold, the Earth is tuned to the key of "B"! I recommend
setting the starting frequency to "B" @ 62.4 Hz.

Brightest Blessings,

Jacky Ligon

🔗PERLICH@ACADIAN-ASSET.COM

🔗David J. Finnamore <daeron@bellsouth.net>

Paul Erlich wrote:

> --- In tuning@y..., ligonj@n... wrote:
>
> > One can easily see the exciting fact, that the "Chord of the Earth"
> > is of the 13 Prime Limit. It is remarkable how closely the averaged
> > nominal frequencies of the Schumann Resonance spectrum are
> > approximated by the 13 limit.
>
> No offense, Jacky, but this is not remarkable at all. You used Hz
> values rounded off to the nearest Hz (which is reasonable because
> these resonances are not sharply defined). You then took ratios of
> these rounded numbers and got small-number ratios. Remarkable?

I thought so, too, at first. Yeah, sure, you can approximate anything with any prime limit to
arbitrary precision. But what might be remarkable is that the nearest Hz values go as high as 45
and yet are all divisible by primes no larger than 13 - except for 7.8, which is 39/5, the
numerator of which in turn is 13*3 (and one of the resonances). It seems a little odd that the
series just happens to miss 17, 19, 23, 29, 31, 34, 38, 41, and 43 on its way to 45 in seven
steps. Somebody was watching where he stepped - might have been the guy doing the rounding, I
don't know. But design or postulation, a series like that isn't likely to occur on a roll of the
dice.

Of course, the earth and many terrestrial objects oscillate at hundreds or thousands of different
frequencies, not only the Schumann Resonances. It is only one of many chords of the earth. Anyone
interested in these things should not miss the website of a former contributor to this list, Ray
Tome's "Cycles in the Universe"

http://homepages.kcbbs.gen.nz/rtomes/index.htm

Like a lot of "interdisciplinary" sites that mix science with a New Age like cosmology, you gotta
kinda be circumspect, if you know what I mean. But there's food for thought in abundance.

--
David J. Finnamore
Nashville, TN, USA
http://personal.bna.bellsouth.net/bna/d/f/dfin/index.html
--

🔗David J. Finnamore <daeron@bellsouth.net>

Jacky Ligon wrote:

> If we wish to create a tuning which will allow us to harmonize with
> the frequencies of the Earth, we can take the nominal average
> frequencies of the Schumann Resonance spectrum, and turn them into a
> scale by converting the frequency ratios into cents, thusly:
>
> Hz Ratios Cents Consecutive
> 7.8
> 14 1.7949 1012.657
> 20 1.4286 617.488 395.169
> 26 1.3000 454.214 163.274
> 33 1.2692 412.745 41.469
> 39 1.1818 289.210 123.536
> 45 1.1538 247.741 41.469

Jacky,

What I don't understand is why you took the consecutive cents of the consecutive cents, here. Your
"Cents" column is already a list of the intervals between the resonances. For example, the
distance between 20 Hz and 26 Hz is 454c; the distance between 26 Hz and 33 Hz is 413c. Why does
it matter that the difference between these two intervals is 41c? As a result of using this
consecutive-of-consecutive basis, your scales don't contain the same relationships as the Schumann
Resonances themselves.

If you want to play this particular "chord of the earth" in a musically useful range, why not
simply transpose it up 3 octaves? Or octave reduce it for a 7-tone octave repeating scale?

Cents Note Consecutive
0 B
289 C# 289
333 D 44
537 E 204
787 F## 250
916 G# 128
1103 A# 187

Or keep piling these intervals on each other for chromatic versions? At least then you'd be able
to play the Schumann chord, albeit in a higher register.

--
David J. Finnamore
Nashville, TN, USA
http://personal.bna.bellsouth.net/bna/d/f/dfin/index.html
--

🔗ligonj@northstate.net

Special thanks to Brother David Finnamore for his penetrating
analysis and suggestions.

--- In tuning@y..., "David J. Finnamore" <daeron@b...> wrote:
> Jacky,
>
> What I don't understand is why you took the consecutive cents of
the consecutive cents, here.

David,

This is something that I just do mechanically with spectrum scales.
Here it was to point out the smallest semitone.

Below is a tuning which will allow one to play the Schumann Resonance
spectrum proportions from each point in the scale:

Schumann Resonance Spectrum Scale, with transposability
("B" @ 62.4 Hz).

Cents Consecutive
0
247.741 247.741
289.21 41.469
412.745 123.535
454.214 41.469
536.951 82.737
617.488 80.537
701.955 84.467
866.959 165.004
949.696 82.737
1012.657 62.961
1071.702 59.045
1156.169 84.467
1260.398 104.229
1403.91 143.512
1484.447 80.537
1549.608 65.161
1630.145 80.537
1773.657 143.512
1877.886 104.229
1962.353 84.467
2021.398 59.045
2084.359 62.961
2167.096 82.737
2332.1 165.004
2416.567 84.467
2497.104 80.537
2579.841 82.737
2621.31 41.469
2744.845 123.535
2786.314 41.469
3034.055 247.741

As interesting to me here, as the approximation of the 13 limit, is
the appearance of 3/2! This scale also has the inversional symmetry
that we all know and love.

Thanks,

Jacky Ligon

🔗Kraig Grady <kraiggrady@anaphoria.com>

Jacky!
Also note the 7.83 is the number of times light would circle the globe in a sec.

It was my understanding and at looking at the charts that the series continues up infinitely
but with decreasing intensity. About a year ago I had my marion running some music at 14 to see if
i noticed anything. After 2 days nothing but when i shifted the whole piece back to concert pitch.
I sense that "something was missing"
http://www.danwinter.com/schumann/schumann.html at the bottom after some misunderstanding list
some other earth frequencies. Also note the 7.83 is the number of times light would circle the
globe in a sec.

ligonj@northstate.net wrote:

> Special thanks to Brother David Finnamore for his penetrating
> analysis and suggestions.
>
> --- In tuning@y..., "David J. Finnamore" <daeron@b...> wrote:
> > Jacky,
> >
> > What I don't understand is why you took the consecutive cents of
> the consecutive cents, here.
>
> David,
>
> This is something that I just do mechanically with spectrum scales.
> Here it was to point out the smallest semitone.
>
> Below is a tuning which will allow one to play the Schumann Resonance
> spectrum proportions from each point in the scale:
>
> Schumann Resonance Spectrum Scale, with transposability
> ("B" @ 62.4 Hz).
>
> Cents Consecutive
> 0
> 247.741 247.741
> 289.21 41.469
> 412.745 123.535
> 454.214 41.469
> 536.951 82.737
> 617.488 80.537
> 701.955 84.467
> 866.959 165.004
> 949.696 82.737
> 1012.657 62.961
> 1071.702 59.045
> 1156.169 84.467
> 1260.398 104.229
> 1403.91 143.512
> 1484.447 80.537
> 1549.608 65.161
> 1630.145 80.537
> 1773.657 143.512
> 1877.886 104.229
> 1962.353 84.467
> 2021.398 59.045
> 2084.359 62.961
> 2167.096 82.737
> 2332.1 165.004
> 2416.567 84.467
> 2497.104 80.537
> 2579.841 82.737
> 2621.31 41.469
> 2744.845 123.535
> 2786.314 41.469
> 3034.055 247.741
>
> As interesting to me here, as the approximation of the 13 limit, is
> the appearance of 3/2! This scale also has the inversional symmetry
> that we all know and love.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Jacky Ligon
>
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-- Kraig Grady
North American Embassy of Anaphoria island
http://www.anaphoria.com

The Wandering Medicine Show
Wed. 8-9 KXLU 88.9 fm

🔗Haresh BAKSHI <hareshbakshi@hotmail.com>

🔗ligonj@northstate.net

--- In tuning@y..., "Haresh BAKSHI" <hareshbakshi@h...> wrote:
> --- In tuning@y..., ligonj@n... wrote:
> .................
>
> >>>Interestingly, we find that by doubling this value and
> raising it by octaves into the audible range of human hearing, that
> low and behold, the Earth is tuned to the key of "B"! I recommend
> setting the starting frequency to "B" @ 62.4 Hz. >>>
>
> Hi Jacky, Since 7.8 Hz is average, and since the frequency lies
> between the theoretical 7.5 Hz and 7.8 Hz, is there any chance that
> the starting frequency is just Bb? I am asking this, knowing that,
> in th past, the Indian scale used to start on the present Bb, not
the
> (present) C.

Haresh,

Hello!

I think to most accurately answer this question, we would have to
know the exact frequency of the ancient Indian Bb, but here is what
is revealed by comparing it to 12 tET frequencies with A440 Hz:

Assuming 7.5 to be the lower end of the averaged Earth Fundamental,
and raising this by factors of 2, to bring it into the audible
hearing range, the closest 12 tET notes would be, A#, Bb @ 29.1352
Hz, and B @ 30.8677 Hz. Raising it another octave we see A#, Bb @
58.2704 Hz and B @ 61.7354 Hz.

So I think it is conceivable that the Bb is possible - it is indeed
very close, but our modern pitch reference and relative note naming
could be quite different, as the standards have evolved over the
centuries.

As I was researching this, I actually wondered if this was known my
the ancient Indian Masters, as they were so attuned to the Earth.

Namaste,

Jacky Ligon