subcent

Subcent is a term used in discussions of precise musical pitch measurement to denote a subdivision of the cent smaller than one cent. A cent equals one hundredth of a semitone in the 12‑tone equal temperament, and there are 1200 cents in an octave. A subcent, then, is any fractional part of a cent such as 0.1 cent or 0.01 cent, though there is no widely standardized definition or naming convention for these subdivisions. The concept arises in microtonal tuning and in computational acoustics where researchers compare extremely fine pitch differences, as well as in advanced tuning software that can display or apply fractional cent adjustments beyond full cents.

In practice, the use of subcents is largely informal. Most musical applications and audible distinctions are consistent with increments of a cent, and human pitch discrimination typically falls above a few cents under normal listening conditions. Still, subcent precision can be relevant in calibrating equipment, in synthetic sound design, or in theoretical discussions of alternate temperaments where extremely fine tuning intervals are contemplated.

See also: cent, octave, microtonal music, tuning, pitch perception, equal temperament.

Notes: The term is not standardized and may be encountered mainly in niche technical writings or discussions of high-precision tuning.