From Guitar World · · 1m 10s
Microtonal Music Misconceptions Explained
Why microtonal music isn't out-of-tune guitars or a fad
In brief
Why microtonal music isn't out-of-tune guitars or a fad Microtonal music uses precise intervals beyond standard tuning, not faulty instruments Originally reported by Guitar World.
Microtonal myth
People think microtonal guitars are out-of-tune, but they use precise intervals beyond standard tuning.
“The most common one is that a microtonal guitar is an out-of-tune guitar”
Microtones vs. quartertones
A microtone is a small interval, not a quartertone, which is 100 equal parts of a semitone.
“A semitone is divided into 100 equal units, and Alexander John Ellis named each of the pieces a cent in the 19th century”
Microtonal history
Microtonal music dates back to ancient China and Greece, with roots in 2600 BCE bamboo pipes and 5th century BCE monochords.
“Ling Lun cut a series of bamboo pipes of different lengths and generated a sequence of pitches through successive perfect fifths”
Modern microtonal guitar
The first microtonal guitar arrived in 1829, with movable frets developed in Paris around 1845.
“This was followed by the first movable-fret guitar, developed in Paris by luthier René Lacôte around 1845”
Why microtonal is trending
Bands like King Gizzard and Angine de Poitrine are popularizing microtonal music in rock and modern genres.
“It's exciting to see a major revival thanks, in part, to bands such as King Gizzard and Angine de Poitrine”
Microtonal players
Over 20 artists are active in microtonal music, including Angine de Poitrine and King Gizzard.
“Angine De Poitrine, their combination of math rock and 24-tone equal temperament is particularly refreshing”
Microtonal future
Microtonal music is becoming more integrated into global music as instruments and education grow.
“For a long time, the main problem was not a lack of ideas, it was a lack of instruments, repertoire, performers and education”
Microtonal education
Istanbul Technical University has a microtonal guitar department since 2014, teaching the music system.
“The world's first microtonal guitar department, opened in 2014 at Istanbul Technical University”
Microtonal community
A global community of musicians is creating new microtonal works and sharing techniques across cultures.
“These are all styles that developed their own pitch systems and melodic practices outside 12-tone equal temperament over centuries”
The headline
Microtonal music uses precise intervals beyond standard tuning, not faulty instruments
