Date Presented
Spring 4-2011
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Bachelor of Science
Department
Physics
First Advisor
Dr. John Eric Goff
Second Advisor
Dr. Chinthaka Liyanage
Third Advisor
Dr. Nancy Cowden
Abstract
The level of dissonance in piano intervals and chords was quantified using both experimental and computational methods. Intervals and chords were played and recorded on both a Yamaha YPT-400 portable keyboard and a Steinway & Sons grand piano. The recordings were run through spectral analyses, and dissonance values were calculated using a dissonance equation. The result was a ranking of comparative dissonance levels between each chord and interval. Though the goal was to find a universal ranking of chords, it was instead determined that such a ranking cannot exist. The non-universal rankings revealed that the transition from least dissonant to most dissonant was gradual.
Recommended Citation
Blatnik, Michael, "Quantifying Harmony and Dissonance in Piano Intervals and Chords" (2011). Undergraduate Theses and Capstone Projects. 137.
https://digitalshowcase.lynchburg.edu/utcp/137