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From: WVE~ol.com
Date: Wed, 2 Oct 1996 13:21:07 -0400
Subject: Re: Harmonica Tuning

In a message dated 96-10-02 08:31:27 EDT, you write:

>I now understand that harmonica tuning is not as simple as it sounds.
>Where might I be able to pick up a relatively inexpensive chromatic tuner?
>Also, since I am still pretty new at the harmonica, what is the measure of
>cents that is always talked about when tuning? (I know it can't have
>anything to do with the monetary system)
>
>Paul Bielicki
>
Cents are a unit of sound interval. There are 100 cents in a halftone (e.g C
to C#). Note that a cent is not expressed as a DIFFERENCE in frequencies
because a cent at a high pitch represents more frequency change than a cent
at a low pitch. A cent is expressed as the RATIO of two frequencies.

To find the difference in cents C between two pitches F and Fo, use the
following equation: C = 1200 / log(2) * ( log(F)-log(Fo) )

To find the pitch of one note F that is different by C cents from another
note Fo, use the following equation: F = Fo * 2 ^ ( C / 1200)

The equations are expressed as in the BASIC computer language where "/" is
for division "*" is for multiplication and "^" is for exponentiation.

Doubtless this is more answer than you wanted, so forgive me for providing so
much background that the foreground has gone underground!

Vern