1/5 Comma Mean-Tone

  1. Tune A4 to fork. The number 4 indicates notes in the octave above middle C4.
  2. Tune A3 to A4. The number 3 indicates notes in the octave below middle C4.
  3. Tune F3 to A3 making a wide 3rd beating 1½ beats per second.
  4. Tune C4 to F3 making a narrow 5th. 1/5 c. 5ths beat around 1½ to 2 beats per second.
  5. Tune D4 to A3 making a wide 4th. 1/5 c. 4ths beat around 2+ beats per second.
  6. Tune G3 to C4 and D4. Make a wide G3C4 4th and a narrow G3D4 5th.
  7. Tune E4 making a wide C4E4 3rd beating 2 beats per second, and a narrow A3E4 5th.
  8. Tune B3 making a wide B3E4 4th and a wide G3B3 3rd beating 1½ beats per second.

    Play chords F3A3C4, G3B3D4, G3C4E4 and make adjustments as needed.

  9. Tune C3 to C4 making a good octave with a wide C3F3 4th and a narrow C3G3 5th.
  10. Tune D3 to D4 making a good octave with a wide D3G3 4th and a narrow D3A3 5th.
  11. Tune E3 to E4 making a good octave with a wide E3A3 4th and a narrow E3B3 5th. C3E3 3rd should beat 1 beat per second.
  12. Tune F#3 making a wide D3F#3 3rd and a wide F#3B3 4th. D3F#3 should beat faster than C3E3 and slower than F3A3.
  13. Tune G#3 making a wide E3G#3 3rd. E3G#3 should beat slower than F3A3.
  14. Tune Bb3 making a wide Bb3D4 3rd beating faster than G3B3 and slower than C4E4, and a wide F3Bb3 4th.
  15. Tune C#4 making a wide A3C#4 3rd beating faster than G3B3 and slower than Bb3D4, and a wide G#3C#4 4th and a narrow F#3C#4 5th.
  16. Tune Eb3 and Eb4 making a wide Eb3G3 3rd, a wide Bb3Eb4 4th, a narrow Eb3Bb3 5th and a good Eb3Eb4 octave. Eb3G4 3rd should beat faster than D3F#3 and slower than E3G#3.
  17. Tune F4,F#4,G4,G#4 etc. checking 4ths,5ths and octaves.
  18. Tune C#3,B2,Bb2 etc. checking 3rds, 4ths, 5ths and octaves

    C 1/5 G 1/5 D 1/5 A 1/5 E 1/5 B 1/5 F# 1/5 C# 1/5 G# ** Eb 1/5 Bb 1/5 F 1/5 C

    Cents, Beats and Frequencys

    for 1/5 Comma Mean-Tone

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    Tuning and Temperaments     Early Music Institute     School of Music     IU Bloomington    

    I welcome any comments or suggestions, email me at psloffer@indiana.edu

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