sävelkorkeuksiin

Sävelkorkeus refers to the perceived highness or lowness of a musical sound, determined primarily by its fundamental frequency. In Western music theory, the standard pitch A above middle C is designated as A4, with a frequency of 440 Hz. This reference pitch, known as the concert pitch, serves as a tuning standard for orchestras and other musical ensembles.

The human ear can distinguish incredibly fine differences in sävelkorkeus. These distinctions are often described using musical intervals, such as a semitone, whole tone, or octave. An octave represents a doubling or halving of frequency, resulting in a sound that is perceived as the same note but at a higher or lower pitch. Other intervals are formed by different frequency ratios.

Sävelkorkeus is a fundamental element of melody and harmony. Melodies are sequences of notes with varying sävelkorkeus, while harmonies involve the simultaneous sounding of multiple notes. The relationships between these pitches create the musical texture and emotional impact of a piece. The precise sävelkorkeus of notes can be influenced by factors like temperature and the tuning system employed. Different tuning systems, such as equal temperament or just intonation, result in slightly different frequency relationships between notes, affecting the perceived purity of intervals.