Why does consonance have a higher quality of sound (timbre) than dissonance?
2 Answers
Nov 20, 2017
The intervals we regard as consonant (octaves, fifths, thirds etc.) are (a) culturally determined (b) whole number ratios of frequencies in Western music.
Explanation:
An octave is a doubling in frequency (2:1), a fifth is a ratio of 3:2 a fourth is a ratio of 4:3, a third is 5:4 etc. in the major keys anyway.
What I find fascinating is how in music from other cultures, different intervals are perceived as ‘natural’ or harmonic.
Nov 20, 2017
Thought of a secondary effect on re-reading this, but it maybe small.
Explanation:
The whole number ratios described above will cause harmonics to be set up in the adjacent strings/tubes of the instrument. This will give a greater richness, or fullness, timbre as you might say!
