quartertone
Quartertone is a term used in music to describe a microtonal interval of 50 cents, lying between two adjacent semitones in standard 12-tone equal temperament. It is also used to refer to pitches, scales, or tunings that subdivide the octave into 24 equal steps, with each step corresponding to 50 cents. Quartertones enable pitches that are not available in conventional Western tuning, expanding melodic and harmonic possibilities.
Notation and tuning: Quartertones are typically indicated with specialized accidentals such as half-sharps and half-flats, or
History and usage: The exploration of quartertones formed part of the broader early 20th-century microtonal movement.
Performance and realization: Creating quartertones can involve retuning instruments, using electronic synthesis, or employing keyboards and
See also microtonal music, 24-tone equal temperament, half-sharp, half-flat.