equal temperament
Low (Technical term)Technical/Formal/Academic
Definition
Meaning
A system of tuning musical instruments where the octave is divided into twelve equal semitones, making all keys sound equally in tune.
The modern standard tuning system for Western music, based on a logarithmic division of frequencies, allowing for modulation between keys without retuning.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily a fixed noun phrase in music theory. While 'temperament' can refer to disposition, in this compound it specifically refers to tuning systems.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. Spelling is identical. The term is used identically in music theory and performance contexts in both regions.
Connotations
Neutral technical term in both varieties. Associated with modernity, standardization, and flexibility in composition.
Frequency
Equally low-frequency and specialized in both British and American English, confined to music and related technical fields.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Instrument] is tuned to equal temperament.[Composer] wrote for instruments with equal temperament.The adoption of equal temperament allowed for...In equal temperament, the octave is divided...Compared to just intonation, equal temperament...Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None. It is a technical term, not used idiomatically.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Virtually never used. Might appear in niche music instrument retail or tuning software marketing.
Academic
Central term in musicology, music theory, acoustics, and history of music. Used in lectures, papers, and textbooks.
Everyday
Extremely rare. Only used by musicians, audio engineers, or music enthusiasts in specific discussions about tuning.
Technical
Core term in music technology, instrument design, audio software development, and acoustic engineering.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The technician will equal-temper the harpsichord next week.
- Many modern instruments are factory-equal-tempered.
American English
- The piano tuner equal-tempered the instrument for the recital.
- Digital keyboards are programmed to equal-temper the scale.
adverb
British English
- The instrument was tuned equal-temperately.
- The piece is played equal-temperately on modern pianos.
American English
- The synthesizer is set to play equal-temperately across all octaves.
- To perform this work, you must tune equal-temperately.
adjective
British English
- The equal-tempered scale is now ubiquitous.
- We need an equal-temperament tuning fork for reference.
American English
- The equal-tempered piano allowed for new harmonic explorations.
- He prefers the sound of equal-temperament guitars.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Pianos use equal temperament.
- This keyboard has equal temperament.
- Most modern music is based on equal temperament.
- In equal temperament, every semitone is the same.
- The adoption of equal temperament revolutionised Western music by enabling free modulation between keys.
- While practical, some musicians argue that equal temperament sacrifices the purity of certain intervals.
- Critics of equal temperament posit that its mathematically convenient compromise inherently detunes all perfect intervals except the octave, thereby creating a pervasive, if subtle, harmonic tension absent in just intonation.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a ruler with twelve equal inches (semitones) in every foot (octave) – that's the EQUAL division of the TEMPERAMENT (tuning).
Conceptual Metaphor
TUNING IS A DIVISION OF SPACE (the octave is 'divided' into 'equal' parts). MUSICAL FREEDOM IS PHYSICAL MOBILITY (equal temperament 'allows' composers to 'move' or 'modulate' between keys).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct translation of 'temperament' as 'темперамент' (personality). The correct Russian equivalent is 'равномерная темперация'.
- Do not confuse with 'строй' (tuning) alone; the specific concept is 'равномерно темперированный строй'.
- The word 'equal' refers to the equal ratio between semitones, not to 'equality' in a social sense.
Common Mistakes
- Mispronouncing 'temperament' as /ˈtempəmənt/ (missing the 'r').
- Confusing 'equal temperament' with 'well temperament' (a different historical system).
- Using it as a countable noun (e.g., 'an equal temperament'). It is generally uncountable.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary acoustic characteristic that defines equal temperament?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Well temperament (like that used in Bach's time) is a category of irregular temperaments where all keys are playable but have slightly different characters. Equal temperament is a specific, regular system where all semitones are identical.
It was developed to solve the 'problem of modulation' in music. Earlier tuning systems made some keys sound beautifully in tune but others unusably out of tune. Equal temperament made all keys equally viable, enabling the complex key changes found in Romantic and later music.
No. Fretted strings (guitar), pianos, and most electronic keyboards do. However, unfretted strings (violin), trombones, and the human voice can and often do use flexible intonation (like just intonation) for pure harmonies within a single key.
It is a compromise. To a trained ear, major thirds and sixths are noticeably sharper than their pure, 'just' counterparts. However, its uniformity is now the accepted standard, and most listeners are accustomed to its sound.