[math-fun] The Pythagorean Comma

The frequency ratio of 3^12 divided by 2^19 = 1.0136... is called the Pythagorean Comma, at least by music people. That's a constant name that doesn't seem to be known much to math people, not that it should be, I suppose. Anyway, if you up 12 pure fifths from a note then go down 7 octaves, the resulting tone is little bit higher than the one you started out with and the difference is the pythagorean comma. I don't know how the shepard thing works but it might be related Thane Plambeck 650 321 4884 office 650 323 4928 fax http://www.qxmail.com/ehome.htm