fundamental

A term used to indicate the 1/1 of an otonality; that is, the low pitch that forms the 'root' of a chord composed of members from the harmonic series, all of which have a numerary nexus in the denominator of the fractions which describes the ratios.

The fundamental can always be found on a lattice diagram as a point in one of the corners of the structure.

See Euler genus for examples.

[from Joe Monzo, JustMusic: A New Harmony]

See also my translation of Patrice Bailhache's Music and Mathematics: Leonhard Euler.

---

(to download a zip file of the entire Dictionary, click here)

For many more diagrams and explanations of historical tunings, see my book. If you don't understand my theory or the terms I've used, start here

I welcome feedback about this webpage: corrections, improvements, good links. Let me know if you don't understand something. return to the Microtonal Dictionary index return to my home page return to the Sonic Arts home page