Intonation
Intonation
Intonation
* The number in cents means how much this interval deviates from an equal tempered "piano" interval.
(As a point of reference, a half-step is a distance of 100.)
+ means the interval needs to be wider
- means the interval needs to be smaller
If you are playing the top part with a tuner holding the bottom note, you will have to adjust the exact number of cents, so
+2 means you have to play 2 sharp.
If you are playing with another player, you can share the burden. If the adjustment is + 2, the top player goes 1 sharp,
the bottom player goes 1 flat.
But the idea is not to adjust by numbers, but by hearing. Play until you hear the difference tone(s) in tune. Which difference tones
you hear will depend on your acoustics, don't worry about the distinction between primary and secondary. Don't even be concerned
if you hear other pitches or different octaves than indicated. It will be justly in tune if you hear any difference tone that belongs to
major chord implied by the interval.
A. Major Triads
Flute 1
Flute 2
or tuner
&
&
*+2
primary difference
tone indicated by circle
& w
w
L
+2
Fl. 2
or tuner
&
w
w
L
-2
w
&
L
-14
w
L
-2
w
L
+2
w
L
wL
&
..
secondary difference
tone indicated by diamond
w
L
+2
+2
Fl. 2
or tuner
w
L
C. Sixths
Fl.1
-2
..
-14
w
L
..
..
w
L
-2
-14
w
L
..
..
bw
Fl.1
Fl. 2
or tuner
Fl.1
Fl. 2
or tuner
bw
& w
&
&
&
+16
+16
w
b
bL
w
b
bL
bw
+16
w
b
b L
bw
w
b
bL
Fl. 2
or tuner
&
&
?
bw
bw
-2
bw
bw
bL
bw
-4
bw
bL
-10
bw
bL
+16
w
b
b L
w
b
bL
bw
bw
w
L
w
b
bL
w
b
b L
+2
bw
bw
+16
+16
bw
-29
bw
bL
bw
-2
bw
bL
bw
-29
bw
bL
w
-10
w
b
bL
..
..
bw
..
-4
bw
bw
bL
bL
This "bass-line" will not be tempered; i.e. will not match the notes on a piano, especially
if you are playing with a tuner.
+16
+16
+16
Fl.1
bw
..
..
This exercise can also be played with one player and a tuner.
The top line can be played with one hand, leaving the other free to change the note on the tuner.
&c
Fl.1
bw
+16
+2
Difference
Tone(s)
&c
+16
+2
bw
#w
b b L
bL
bw
bw
&w
bw
#w
bL
#L
&
5
&c w
Fl.2 or
Tuner
bw
& L
L
b
bw
bw
bw
& L
bb L
bL
&
9
&
9
..
..
..
&c
#w
-2
+17
Nw
+16
+2
#w
&c w
Difference
Tone(s)
&c
L
&
5
&
5
bw
Nw
bw
bw
bw
bw
bw
& b
bL
&
9
&
9
&
b L
bL
#w
Nw
#w
# # L
#L
13
&
13
&
bw
Nw
#w
#w
#w
bw
#w
#w
13
& b
bL
17
&
17
&
17
& L
L
b b LL
# # LL
#L
..
..
..
Intonation Exercise
with thirds and sixths
&c
Fl/Pic
&c
Fl/Pic.2
or Tuner
Difference
Tone(s)
? c bL
bL
&
NU
Nw
bL
& b
? bL
bL
w
b
&
bw
& c b
Intonationsbung
mit Terzen und Sexten
bL
#U
#w
#U
#L
#
#L
2
9
&
9
&
9
&
9
b
w
b
&
13
&
13
&
?
13
Nw
bL
#U
bL
w
b
bL
bL
bw
b
bw
? bL
13
b
bL
w
b
bL
bL
bL
&
17
&
17
Nw
&
17
17
#U
Part 2. Sixths
19
&
19
& bw
Nw
#U
19
& bL
? b
19
bL
bL
bL
L
L
4
23
&
& w
23
#w
#U
23
& bL
? b
23
27
&
27
&
#L
Fermata
#L
bw
#L
27
& L
? b
27
bL
bL
bL
bL
31
&
31
&
Nw
L
31
35
&
35
&
35
&
?
35
31
&
#U
bL
bL
#U
w
L
w
bL
#w
#L
& ..
.
& .
.. ..
.. ..
.. ..
.. ..
.. ..
.. ..
.. ..
.. ..
#
#
.. ..
..
# #
.. ..
..
F#
Combination tone/
Kombinationston
& ..
& ..
#
#
C#
#
#
.. ..
.. ..
G#
.. ..
.. ..
# #
# #
.. ..
.. ..
D#
b
b
B
.. ..
.. ..
.. ..
.. ..
..
..
Flute
+
A=440
Difference
Tones
&
?
+16
secondary
difference
tone
primary
difference
tone
other
notes in
harmonic
series
#w
-14
ww
-2
# ww
+17
#
##
# L
b w
-17
N L
D# and Eb differ by
a comma 49/50 ratio
WIBB
ww
+16
b
# ww
w
w
-14
-31
#
U
w