just intonation

American  

noun

Music.

1. a system of tuning based on the pure perfect fifth and major third.

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just intonation British  

noun

1. a form of tuning employing the pitch intervals of the untempered natural scale, sometimes employed in the playing of the violin, cello, etc

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Etymology

Origin of just intonation

First recorded in 1840–50

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

just intonation

In its simplest terms, just intonation means that the ratios between notes are whole numbers, rather than the irrational ratios that divide the octave in the familiar framework of equal temperament.

From New York Times ● Dec. 28, 2021

The DJ knew only the name of the style: just intonation.

From New York Times ● Dec. 28, 2021

A proud autodidact, Pitre has moved among long-form electronic drones, mercurial acoustic improvisations and glistening string meditations, all employing just intonation.

From New York Times ● Dec. 28, 2021

Whether or not it aligns your chakras or what-have-you, it could refresh your resistance, or at least set your inner tuning fork humming at a more just intonation.

From Slate ● Mar. 4, 2019

The other accommodation with reality that just intonation must make is the fact that a single just-intonation tuning cannot be used to play in multiple keys.

From "Understanding Basic Music Theory" by Catherine Schmidt-Jones and Russel Jones