Well Tempered Tuning explained by Bach

[@bobsteiner9209]

The chords in space are simply gorgeous. Herr Bach's English is also remarkable for a man who never ventured outside of Germany....

[@BachTheAnimatedSeries]

🤣 Yes, I'm sorry about the accent, but if I had given Bach a German accent, all of the other characters in the series would've had to have a similar accent as well. This would have made it less understandable and perhaps also a bit pedantic. Thank you very much for the lovely compliment!

[@EdBender]

😂 The accent is fine. A little poetic license, one may say. Just like the fact that one would never ask His Grace if he could keep a secret... One would imagine such question to be highly disrespectful, especially in the Germany of that time. But then again, poetic license for great work!

[@alexandruciobanu9434]

Bravo ,Mr.Peter ! Through you I had the opportunity to participate live in a harmony lesson taught by the incomparable Master Bach ! Thank you !

[@BachTheAnimatedSeries]

Thank you, my friend! My apologies that I didn't see your comment sooner.

[@spockofdune8657]

well done...The part where the chords and the image behind underline the emotion is pure gold.

[@BachTheAnimatedSeries]

Thank you very much! 😊 In a few days I'm going to publish a similar video about the fugue. Hopefully you'll find it equally interesting.

[@Gonzol7]

A number of years ago, I stumbled upon some internet information about Bradley Lehman's idea that the curlicues at the head of Bach's "Wohltemperirte Clavier" (as Bach spelled it) title page represent his own unique tuning temperament. I became quite convinced. Since then, I have moved to a new area--where Mr. Lehman lives! I have met him! Wonderful bit of research. I am so glad you used it! (Bach's is not an equal temperament, which has been universally adopted for only a little over a century now, in which all the half steps are equal. [There are lots of different temperaments.] In the Bach-Lehman temperament, some half steps are slightly bigger than others, but all 12 half steps are coordinated to maximize the consonances in all keys, while yet preserving each key's individual character. In our modern equal temperament--which even Rameau favored some--all the perfect fifths are slightly small and all equally out of tune; it's ugly. In the Bach-Lehman temperament, all the fifths are much more in tune, quite more beautiful.)

[@BachTheAnimatedSeries]

Thank you so much for your kind and extensive comment. To be honest, personally I doubt that this is the meaning of those curls, if there is any at all, and it hasn't been picked up by any scientific paper for as far as I know, but the story's so nice so I decided to use Lehman's theory anyway. :-) Bach put so many riddles in his music so I couldn't ignore this. You are also absolutely right that Bach's temperament was not equal; that's why I used the term: "More equal distances". I couldn't elaborate too much on it of course, as my videos are intended for people who don't know Bach, or who don't even know anything about music. It's just that when talking about Bach, this is an aspect that can hardly be ignored, so I tried to explain temperament for "dummies". :-)

[@Gonzol7]

@@BachTheAnimatedSeries You're welcome! I thought your choices in the animation were all spot on, every one--and the "keys" expanding and contracting sideways such an effective way to show the temperament!

[@BachTheAnimatedSeries]

@@Gonzol7 Thank you very much! :-)

[@dominiquemanchon9914]

I have been using this temperament for at least two years by now, on both my spinet and my Erard old grand piano. I am deeply convinced Lehman is right. This temperament sounds great in all keys, and from early music to Grieg, Debussy, Lili Boulanger, Ravel,...

[@drumshero03]

Thank you for your comment! I remember watching a documentary or something like that about that exact topic, although I couldn’t remember if it was Bach or Beethoven. I was starting to think I’d dreamt it, until I saw your words!

[@inhorama338]

Astonishing ! I'm so glad I came across your channel, amazing work !

[@BachTheAnimatedSeries]

Thank you very much, that's so kind of you! 😊

[@Pratman]

Omg this episode is just awesome as ever.

[@leonida257]

Amazing work! I just discovered this channel and I’m amazed

[@BachTheAnimatedSeries]

Thank you very much! I'm just doing my best and it's so nice to know that you like it. 😊

[@gingervytis]

I had my grand tuned to a well tempered coleman 11. It definitely sounds different across the keys, with more "color" as the sharps increase.

[@BachTheAnimatedSeries]

Yes, we've become too accustomed to equal tuning so we don't realise anymore how awful it sounds. 😊

[@AspartameBoy]

Brilliant!! Encore!!

[@BachTheAnimatedSeries]

Thank you! 😊

[@misterguy9051]

Werckmeister III (modified a bit to bring it closer to JI) is my fav tuning for my keyboards.

[@BachTheAnimatedSeries]

It's probably the one that Bach based his work on. 😊

[@marisarai777]

Hi Mr Peter, for sure this great talent will be more recognised.

[@BachTheAnimatedSeries]

Let's hope so. I'm grateful for your help. 😊

[@marisarai777]

And I am so grateful to have you as a friend.

[@berndp3426]

Bach is actually and absolutely right. A "perfect" tone distancing isn't always right or "harmonic". Even if it is mathematically defined by 12th root of 2 which is representing a "perfect half tone" frequency step (factor) but that doesn't actually match in every chord. Which only sound "harmonic" with no differentials in the beat they create if being mixed into a chord (otherwise will also create a beat inbetween the beats of every single tone participating in a chord, making it sound somehow "not right", slightly dissonant). If the beat (resulting mix or interference) frequency is equal among all of the notes in a chord then it sounds harmonic, clean, means no beat differentials being apparent resp. these then are also in an harmonic distance. That is meant with the tempering of a chord or keyboard (you also can do this on a string-based instrument while you play, otherwise an instrument with fixed tuning would have to be tuned either for a "major" or "minor" sound principal or characteristic). Because the required shift in the base tones adjustment (the bias) for proper beat equalization is different for major and minor tunes. While lately there is nothing feasible to be "ideal" concerning the tuning of instruments with single-tone bars and keys, so you have to decide how to tune it, how it should "fee" in the ear. For clean intervals, tempered, beat equalized, or even for a family of tunes in major or minor. While on electronic instruments there is possibility to use programmed patterns - autotuned intervals - when specific chords are played instead of single tones. ALso, a very slow "harmonic beat" can actually put some musical mood into a chord. Because "pure perfection" sounds "genderless", cold, like Bach says.

[@BachTheAnimatedSeries]

Thank you for your elaborate comment in which you explain the technicalities so well! Cheers! 😊

[@keithcitizen4855]

Is that Bach's actual words or yours ?

[@EdBender]

Wonderful!

[@BachTheAnimatedSeries]

Thank you very much! 😊

[@cellsaga88]

So good . The best lessons. Thank you for your work ?

[@BachTheAnimatedSeries]

Thank you very much for your lovely comment. 😊

[@BlueEagle-yk6dg]

Wonderful video

[@BachTheAnimatedSeries]

Thank you so much! 😊

[@jjrossphd]

marvelous

[@BachTheAnimatedSeries]

Thank you! 😊

[@canadiansoul9401]

THANKS FROM BRAZIL :) I'M IN MY 4h year in the Piano and I always try to learn about this, this is the best way to explain :D

[@BachTheAnimatedSeries]

Thank you for your kind words! Keep going with the piano! There are times it's hard, especially the first years, and also afterwards it sometimes seems that you're a slave of the piano because stopping for a week may set you back more than a week of practice. But in the end, there's no greater joy and no better way to cleanse the mind than playing the music you love. Best regards from Italy. Peter

[@jaikee9477]

Just found your fantastic channel! You certainly deserve more views, Sir!

[@BachTheAnimatedSeries]

Thank you very much, you're too kind. I'm glad you enjoy it!

[@MitchBoucherComposer]

Wow! Great use of the 'Chromatic' fantasy BWV 903 (sorry if that's spoilers). I really like your channel a lot!

[@BachTheAnimatedSeries]

Thank you for the compliment, though I'm light years away from Gould... 😆

[@MitchBoucherComposer]

@@BachTheAnimatedSeries Wait, that was your playing??

[@BachTheAnimatedSeries]

@@MitchBoucherComposer Er, a slight attempt at it... 😆

[@MitchBoucherComposer]

@@BachTheAnimatedSeries Oh, nice! You played it better than I ever could... :D

[@XY_Dude]

Excellent breakdown Herr Bach! As a piano tech, I've always been fascinated with the use of alll the various tempraments. I double-checked my keyboard, though, and could not find the H note for Hmaj 7! Special harpsichord? ❤

[@Ziad3195]

I adore this video

[@BachTheAnimatedSeries]

Thank you very much!!! 😊

[@Apauling31]

Was trying to get my head around how keyboards have changed over time (with more history in my background than music theory) and let me tell you I read the wiki page on keyboard temperament and it just wasn't getting it, but man it clicked by the time he plays the g#. Thanks!

[@BachTheAnimatedSeries]

Thank you very much for your kind words. I've tried to explain things in a way that may be a bit too easy - there's much more to it actually - but the "wolf interval" G#-D# sounds pretty obvious. 😆. Thank you once more!

[@MoeSchmoe]

Amazing, amazing, amazing!

[@BachTheAnimatedSeries]

Thank you very much! 😊

[@MoeSchmoe]

@@BachTheAnimatedSeries I'm interested in perhaps helping in anyway I can, perhaps voice acting or some form of management help? This is an amazing project

[@pkrent3461]

Amazing, Bach was genius

[@BachTheAnimatedSeries]

Thank you! 😊

[@Fildoggy]

I cant believe bach knew about machines. Very good video btw I never understood this concept until now

[@BachTheAnimatedSeries]

Thank you very much for the lovely compliment. 😊 Of course, automated machines as we know them today didn't exist in Bach's day and I used the expression to explain the "feeling" of Bach's tuning a bit better. That being said, "machines" did exist at the time and the word was widely used for any apparatus with moving parts that worked without manpower, such as e.g. military machines or clocks. The most complex "machine" in Bach's day was undoubtedly... the pipe organ. 😉

[@Gustavo-ok7jw]

There were steam engines being developed in Bach's time. That was also a time of great scientific progress so even though machines weren't a reality, they were probably being imagined.

[@jordanstephenson9394]

Great content 👌

[@BachTheAnimatedSeries]

Thank you!!! 😆

[@caioassuncao3883]

Parabéns meu amigo pela dedicação!

[@BachTheAnimatedSeries]

Obrigado! 😆

[@oldionus]

Bach did not use equal temperament nor advocate for it. He used a "well" temperament, probably similar to Werckmeister.

[@BachTheAnimatedSeries]

You are absolutely correct and that's why I said "more equal distances" in the video. I didn't want to elaborate too much on the subject though because I wanted to create something that everyone could understand. I therefore hope that you appreciate my somewhat simplistic approach.

[@casrifay]

Can you please quote the source of Bach’s words and conversation with the monarch regarding the well-tempered tuning system

[@BachTheAnimatedSeries]

@@casrifay The source? Er... my imagination?...😅

[@Tolstoy111]

Would Bach have used the term “Classical harmony”?

[@BachTheAnimatedSeries]

I think he might have. After all, he was referring to Pythagoras...

[@Tolstoy111]

@@BachTheAnimatedSeries Ah makes sense

[@InventorZahran]

Bro could've just had one manual tuned to meantone and the other one well-tempered. No need to adjust tuning on the spot!

[@BachTheAnimatedSeries]

True, but this would restrict playing to one manual at the time only. In the Baroque era usually both manuals were used simultaneously when available.

[@InventorZahran]

@@BachTheAnimatedSeries Was that done to compensate for the harpsichord's limited dynamic range?

[@nikitademodov3446]

@@InventorZahran I don't know about harpsichords, but on organs it is often used to highlight certain melodic lines. (i.e. play the soprano on a louder manual).

[@tobyque9399]

Excellent explanation! Is there a video that explains how to read the chords with roman numerals starting 3:03? I've never seen chords notated like that..

[@BachTheAnimatedSeries]

Thank you for your kind comments. There are quite a few videos on YT explaining chord notation, for example this one: m.kzbin.info/www/bejne/bGOuZZaHbZqAeqc&pp=ygUOQ2hvcmQgbm90YXRpb24%3D I hope this helps...

[@tobyque9399]

​@@BachTheAnimatedSeries I appreciate your reply, but the roman numerals Im seeking to decode aren't explained in that video

[@bertrandolf9733]

Thank you for the animations! This sounds really very good and interesting. I'm currently practising Contrapunctus XIV and i have Pianoteq, until yet i simply set it to 415 and "Well Temperament". But i'd have more advanced tuning options handy, so if anybody would like to suggest possibly further refined tuning that'd be highly appreciated!

[@BachTheAnimatedSeries]

Thank you for your kind comment. I'm not really a tuning expert, so unfortunately I can't give you any advice, also because nobody really knows how Bach exactly tuned his instruments. Contrapunctus XIV is a beauty, especially towards the end with it's amazing harmonies. Pity that Bach wasn't able to finish it, so we can only wonder how he would have integrated the general theme of The Art of the Fugue as the final theme of this contrapunctus. Good luck with your practice! 😊

[@graeme011]

So, where does this leave me with my own piano? Should I get it retuned to "well tempered" instead of "equal" temperament? Then what happens if I want to play Beethoven, or Ravel, or some other composer?

[@BachTheAnimatedSeries]

Equal Temperament is an invention of the 20th century and it's, to my opinion, the worst tuning ever as it's not only so far off the natural harmony, but it also makes every key sound exactly the same. Classical music should generally be performed with a form of Just Temperament, as was made popular by Bach and which allows every key to be played without straying too far from the natural chords. Your tuner should be able to do this without any problems. That being said, Baroque music such as Bach should normally be played with a tuning at 432Hz iso 440Hz, half a note lower. So here you'll have to choose whether you want to play Bach too high or Classical/Romantic music too low.

[@concerned1]

1:49 he says the solution is to open up the notes at more equal distances but isn’t this what equal temperament is?

[@BachTheAnimatedSeries]

I used the words "more equal distances" because my video's intended for everyone, especially people without any musical knowledge. I hoped that this way they would understand without becoming too technical and without using the words "the same distances", which is of course equal temperament. Bach's temperament certainly wasn't equal, but it went a bit towards equal so please forgive me for simplifying the subject perhaps a bit too much.

[@hvanngil9575]

question: How is the instrument we hear from 03:02 onwards tuned? It seems to me that it is tuned in equal temperament. Bach, who according to his son C.P.E. tuned his keyboard instruments himself, did not ( verifiably?) tune in equal temperament. 'Das reine stimmen seiner Instrumente war sein vornehmstes Augenmerk. Niemand konnte ihm seine Instrumente zu Dancke stimmen. Er that alles selbst' translated ‘The pure tuning of his instruments was his foremost concern. Nobody could tune his instruments for him. He did everything himself’ (according to C.P.E. Bach)

[@BachTheAnimatedSeries]

@@hvanngil9575 No, Bach certainly did not use equal temperament. The recording was made with my keyboard set to "Well Tempered", but of course it's an electronic instrument... 😓

[@hvanngil9575]

@@BachTheAnimatedSeries hmm, I own a YAMAHA P90, where you can set different tunings. Among others, ‘Werckmeister’ and ‘Kirnberger’ are offered. But that's not very accurate. Werckmeister and Kirnberger developed more than a single tuning method. But the YAMAHA manual gives no hint about the versions. I would like to be informed about the cent values of each subsequent key/tone (based on c' as the starting value cero). Surely an unfulfillable wish, haha. back to my question: I was expecting more differences in roughness between some of the dissonant chords. They seem quite balanced to me in this respect. It sounds more like equal tempered to me. Does the manual of your keybord say anything about which ‘well tempered’ tuning you have (Kirnberger ... etc.)?

[@CensureAsylum]

Liked & Subscribed.

[@BachTheAnimatedSeries]

Thank you very much! 😊

[@mahfeww]

Pure intonation is superior in every way except for convenience. Do not be fooled. Vibration creates reality.

[@ChannelPabilona]

Excellent! I deeply appreciated your work! What resonated to me the most was the concept of imperfection... This is what distinguishes us to a machine, and fills us with emotions. Thanks for your work, Mr.! Please continue your efforts. May God grace your future works.

[@BachTheAnimatedSeries]

Thank you very much for your kind words. Comments such as yours give me the courage to continue and, even though you may have to wait another month or two, a next episode is on its way. 😊 All the best!

[@johnsandfort8908]

Just to make sure I'm understanding this right--Bach's tuning, "well temperament", is sort of a halfway point between classical tuning (meantone? pythagorean? or yet another thing?) and modern tuning, "equal temperament". Is that right?

[@BachTheAnimatedSeries]

Halfway point is perhaps a bit exaggerated because Well-Tempered is much closer to Meantone than to Eaqual, although there are many different methods of Well-Tempered. The problem with Pythagoras and later Meantone was that at a certain point the fifths became so out of tune that they started to sound horrible, as I tried to show in the video. This seriously limited the number of usable keys. Well-Tempered tunings tweaked a "pure" tuning to eliminate excessive discordance. "White key" fifths were narrowed down, producing purer thirds, whereas the "black key" fifths were widened. The result was that all keys became playable, albeit not "perfect", and the differences between the intervals gave every key a distinct character. Equal tuning, as you know, eliminated all the differences between the intervals completed, but this came at a price. With Equal tuning, thirds sound even 14% out of tune and this is really a lot. These days nobody cares anymore because we've become so accustomed to easy but horrible Equal Temperament that we don't know how music should really sound. Fortunately, most classical artists insist that their instruments be tuned exactly as Bach, Mozart or Van Beethoven intended.

[@reymanceratv5925]

What’s the document called that explains this?

[@BachTheAnimatedSeries]

Sorry, I don't understand... Which document are you referring to? Are you looking for more information about Just Temperament?

[@steveforwarduk]

great video, I thought J.S. Bach used a tuning system called, "Just Temperament" tho' and Equal Temperament came about a bit later? nevertheless, I wish more people would take an interest in where our 12 notes came from. Great job!

[@BachTheAnimatedSeries]

"Well Tempered" is actually the same as "Just", though it's not a uniform system and many variations were devised to achieve the same goal, i.e. to make all 24 keys playable. You are absolutely right that Equal Temperament came about much later, at the beginning of the 20th century in fact. Equal's different in the sense that all note intervals were made equal, whereas with Well/Just the intervals were far from equal. This in turn gave every key its specific character and it was exactly this that Bach wanted to show in his work. With Equal Temperament all keys sound exactly the same (just higher or lower) and nowadays we're so conditioned by it, unfortunately, that we don't even realise how awful it sounds, with some notes even 12% off compared to their natural sound. Thank you very much for the lovely compliment! Cheers!

[@ulissesbarraza9800]

@@BachTheAnimatedSeries Just tuning is zarlino tuning which is fraction multiples of the tonic pitch. Just Temperament is in no way similar to well temperaments.

[@alistairgill5538]

​@@BachTheAnimatedSeries I feel as if "equal temperament" is not being given enough recognition for what it is. Music doesn't stand still, it changes, it meets different purposes and it advances. As with all art forms, the advancement may not meet our taste but that doesn't necessarily mean it's bad. One advantage of equal temperament is that it doesn't alter its mood or "colour" if the key is moved up or down to suit a singer's tonal range. In addition, equal temperament helps the various instruments to play together. Some chord progressions depend upon equal temperament tuning. The development of western music is fascinating and this was a good video giving an interpretation of how perhaps just temperament was developed. Thank you.

[@lunyxappocalypse7071]

@@alistairgill5538 Basically yes, that was why it was so widely adopted. I just wish more experimentation, within the bounds of chamber music would be allowed.

[@cheesestar467]

What is the song at 4:10 called?

[@BachTheAnimatedSeries]

It's Bach's prelude in F major of the Well-Tempered Keyboard vol. 1, BWV 856.

[@cheesestar467]

@@BachTheAnimatedSeries Thank you : )

[@Ziad3195]

@@BachTheAnimatedSeries What about the moody one?

[@marcomarcomarcomarcomarco]

@@Ziad3195 i forgott

[@TheSonsofHorusx]

What song was that opening harpsichord riff from?

[@BachTheAnimatedSeries]

Do you mean that piece after "Brother John"? It's Bach's fugue in C major from the first book of the Well-Tempered Keyboard, BWV846. 😉

[@TheSonsofHorusx]

Nah the one at he. Eye first 0 to 10 seconds of the video. It sounds dark and awesome!@@BachTheAnimatedSeries

[@disndat12345]

@@TheSonsofHorusx Its Bach: Prelude and Fugue No.2 Well Tempered Clavier, Book 1: BWV 847, don't know why they are being coy about it. The Fugue is amazing as well. Some of my all time favorite Bach. Awesome video explainer!

[@TheSonsofHorusx]

Thank you sir! I love the pulse of it too, and I can imagine it's a blast to play. Take care @@disndat12345

[@disndat12345]

NP - Yeah, it really is.. you have to stop about halfway through and marvel at the genius of JSB to come up with that and realize the tempered tuning allows for the constant modulations.. it's really something@@TheSonsofHorusx

[@hvanngil9575]

00:43 Mr. J.S. Bach promises to play the fifth g in the video, but he presses the key for the note a (the sixth) and so on ...

[@BachTheAnimatedSeries]

@@hvanngil9575 I don't think he does. It's impossibile to tell as his hand covers the note he's playing.

[@hvanngil9575]

​@@BachTheAnimatedSeries I I think you're right - it's not really important anyway.

[@ThatGuy-y2c]

H major?

[@BachTheAnimatedSeries]

Yes. In Bach's day, what is now known as B was daylight B flat. That way, Bach was able to write his name with his music. 😊

[@neilwalsh3977]

Love the harmonic notation!!!!!!!

[@BachTheAnimatedSeries]

Thank you very much, Neil! :-)

[@neilwalsh3977]

@@BachTheAnimatedSeries Rick Beato would be very impressed!

[@BachTheAnimatedSeries]

@@neilwalsh3977 Now you're doing me too much honour! :-D

[@yousafe007]

Would’ve loved it if it were in the Thorough Bass notation, but it was beautiful as is

[@Z.0001-7]

are the chords displayed the actual chords being played ??? (no, I'm not talking about what frequency A equals to ). Also what is up with a minor chord being noted as III (upper case ?) the way he displays the chords are confusing or I'm too drunk

[@BachTheAnimatedSeries]

Yes, I realise that many people prefer using iii instead of III for minor chords, though I specified major and minor after the base key and kept ordinary Roman numerals for the harmonic function of the chord, hoping that this would be clearer. I'm sorry if this was confusing to you.

[@edzmuda6870]

I never thought Bach spoke like a Londoner.

[@BachTheAnimatedSeries]

Well, I couldn't use a German accent now could I? It would have made him sound like Herr Flick... 🤣🤣🤣

[@edzmuda6870]

@@BachTheAnimatedSeries Why not? Like Arnold Schwarzenegger - “I’ll be Bach”.

[@ratghost25]

Cool, but I don't think Johann spoke English or sported a British accent.

[@BachTheAnimatedSeries]

Thank you! The problem is that if I had given Bach a German accent, all of the other characters in the series would've had to have a similar accent as well. This would have made it less understandable and perhaps also a bit pedantic. But if you watch ep 17 I'm sure you'll be happy. 😊

[@JAYDUBYAH29]

Everyone from that period got a posh English accent standard with their powdered wigs.

[@rlagudtjq91]

Just wait until Disney gets their hands on this

[@joseleonido3479]

Or used A=440 (with whatever tuning)

[@aaronisaacarias62992]

It is understandable that he speaks English so that more can hear the words spoken but he should definitely have a german accent.

[@Sharazade]

Um.... H major? What key is that? (3:10)

[@BachTheAnimatedSeries]

"H" is the classical way to say "B". In fact, in the classical scale "B" is what's known today as "B flat". This allowed Bach to write his name in his music: "B"-"A"-"C"-"H". 😊

[@gabedamien]

@@BachTheAnimatedSeries that is most specific to German notation, which is of course completely relevant here, and which still exists today in some places. Other classical notation systems existed too; in Gregorian chant, as I recently learned, the original B natural was notated with a square lowercase b (the b quadratum) and the flat B was indicated by a round lowercase b (the b rotundum). These lowercase b shapes became the origin of the modern accidental shapes for flat, natural, and sharp (the sharp is a "harder" b quadratum, turned into the b cancellatum).

[@holmespianotuning]

Kellner is one of the best tunings to use for Bach. The one to avoid at all costs is Lehman, nothing sounds good in this tuning - even chopsticks! Regardless of whatever the squiggle at the top of the WTC may or may not mean.

[@Lee_music249]

I think we should get back to well-temperament, or at least be willing to experiment more with how we tune.

[@BachTheAnimatedSeries]

I totally agree. Unfortunately most performers just choose the easy way out...

[@hawksmith7329]

What was the song in the intro?

[@BachTheAnimatedSeries]

It's Bach's prelude in C minor from the first book of the Well-Tempered Keyboard, BWV847. 😉

[@concerned1]

Could I well-temper my guitar?

[@BachTheAnimatedSeries]

I'm not a guitar expert, but I don't think so because you can't move the frets. On a fretless guitar, on the other hand, this should be no problem.

[@sameash3153]

​​@@BachTheAnimatedSeries Guitars with movable frets and microfrets are becoming slightly more in vogue at the moment

[@salmonsandwich3183]

3:09 whoa who whoa who. what is this h major 7th? there's an "h" note now?!

[@BachTheAnimatedSeries]

Yes! In the classical notation, the B was actually used for what we now know as B flat and our current-day B was referred to as H. This originated from the old medieval scale where B flat was used instead of B and later the H was added for a "normal" B. In modern times, for simplicity's sake, the H was abandoned and became B. Funny enough, it allowed Bach to embed his name in his music: B-A-C-H! 😊

[@salmonsandwich3183]

@@BachTheAnimatedSeries Cool! I've been a lover and player of Bach for years now, and I just discovered your channel and I love it! I recently traded my acoustic piano for electric gear, including a few synths, and I've experimenting with the tuning knobs on my polyphonic analogue synthesizer and how they effect harmonies, with very interesting results! I definitely want to experiment with scales/temperaments as well. There's something truly magical about Bach's music. Thank you for making such an awesome series

[@illusionyx907]

I guess all composers of that time always used an Italian tradition notes as Do, Re, Mi, Fa, Sol, La, Si + dies, bemol...but not an alphabet ABC modern style....

[@BachTheAnimatedSeries]

Well, they did actually. Bach even used his own name a couple of times as a theme in his music (B-A-C-H). 😊 Of course, the Germans used the traditional notes much more often but I wanted to make this video as understandable as possible for everyone.

[@illusionyx907]

@@BachTheAnimatedSeries yes, but a classical music must have its own historical roots and even for hearing the Italian notes is accepting by mind much better then a faceless alphabet ABC ...the classical music must keep its enigma, a charm....the modern ABC style as a chewing gum...sorry, but it is a true

[@BachTheAnimatedSeries]

@@illusionyx907 Actually, the letter notation is much more ancient than do-re-mi! The system goes back to the ancient Greeks who marked the notes on top of the lyrics of their songs with A, B and so on. H was an octave higher than A. The Italian do-re-mi didn't exist until the 13th century. 😉

[@AcceptableAsGenerallyDecent]

“ghastlehh”

[@BachTheAnimatedSeries]

🤣

[@mikehughes6582]

I always wondered what he meant by Well Tempered.

[@BachTheAnimatedSeries]

IMHO, Bach meant that his tuning was the perfect balance between "perfect" (Pythagorean/Meantone) and "bland" equal temperament, allowing the use of all 24 keys whilst retaining a special "character" for every single one of them.

[@DariusSarrafi]

You keep having Bach call Equal Temperament (ET) his! He had nothing to do with it!

[@BachTheAnimatedSeries]

No, I said "more equal distances", in order to make it also understandable for people who don't know anything about tuning. But perhaps I should have specified that it's not the same as equal...

[@DariusSarrafi]

@@BachTheAnimatedSeries I understand. But Bach had nothing to do with inventing Equal Temperament (Distance). He was a superuser who asked scientists to come up with something. He was to ET what Keith Emerson and Wendy Carlos were to Moog synthesizer. Anyway... I really like your video nonetheless! I also like the WTK P+F #2 performance you use in your introduction. Who is playing?

[@mantistoboggan2676]

This video makes it seem like bach used equal temperament which is not true…

[@BachTheAnimatedSeries]

I used the words "more equal distances". Yes, you're right that this may sound confusing but this video was primarily intended for people who don't know anything about tuning, so I didn't want to bother them with too technical details. I hope that you'll forgive me for perhaps simplifying a bit too much.

[@mantistoboggan2676]

@@BachTheAnimatedSeries oh okay. That is understandable! I didnt hear the word more and got triggered lol.

[@aaronisaacarias62992]

Great animation! Just use a german accent voice and it will be perfect!

[@BachTheAnimatedSeries]

Thanks! 😊 The problem is that if I had given Bach a German accent, all of the other characters in the series would've had to have a similar accent as well. This would have made it less understandable and perhaps a bit pedantic. Or perhaps too much 'Allo 'Allo... 🤣

[@aaronisaacarias62992]

@BachTheAnimatedSeries well I for one would have no problem understanding the thickest german accents. But that's just me. I love the german accent! But anyway thank you for showing Bachs brilliance! I also learn from these being a musician(Harpsichord, ocarina) myself and a deeply appreciate that! You are doing great work!

[@ohno2566]

“Ghastly”

[@BachTheAnimatedSeries]

Thank you! 😊

[@sameash3153]

Why is bach a wojak

[@BachTheAnimatedSeries]

I preferred to make the Bach series in black and white to enhance the drama because it's a sad story really. 😉

[@bobdeverell]

A lot of assumptions about Bach's views. Bach took a keen interest in organ design and maintenance, where tuning is an important consideration. He showed that how even-temperament could be more generally accepted to resolve the say G# vs Ab conundrum on a keyboard. . Does this mean he preferred the tonal distortions of even- tempered tuning ? No, he simply demonstrated it allowed a full range of music keys to be played on any keyboard for only a small degree of dis-harmony.

[@BachTheAnimatedSeries]

Bach didn't use equal tuning, he used "just" tuning. The whole point of writing his 2 books of the WTK was to demonstrate the advantages of just temperament through which all of the 24 keys became playable without re-tuning and through which every single one of those keys got its own "mood". Equal temperament is an abomination invented in the early 20th century.

[@matthiaswilhelm9813]

Now I Loved Not Oldmaster Bachs Equal.Better ist for me Werkmeister.Bach,the old Cent Fake Undertaker👏👏👏💞😂😂😂🎯💀💀💀5 Years Alcatrasz for Johann🙀🙀🙀➡️🐒Ear pain!

[@BachTheAnimatedSeries]

Bach's temperament was not equal temperament (only popular as from the beginning of the 20th century) but "just" temperament, which certainly isn't the same. Actually we still don't know exactly how Bach tuned. 😉

[@jakegearhart]

This is inaccurate, and completely backwards. In Bach's temperament, the fifths are _more_ in tune than the standard of the time, not less. The pure major thirds are what get sacrificed, not the fifths (they improved).

[@BachTheAnimatedSeries]

You're referring to Meantone, I was referring to Pythagorean tuning. In any case, that's not the point I was trying to make (for an audience unfamiliar with tuning). I merely wanted to show that Just Tuning, through sacrificing some "perfect" intervals, made it possible to play all keys.

[@jakegearhart]

​@@BachTheAnimatedSeries The point would be easier to understand for an unfamiliar audience if the difference between the intervals was actually audible to more people. A difference of 1/50th of a semitone between Equal and Pythagorean fifths isn't obvious for even trained musicians. The difference between a justly tuned major third and an equally tempered third is audible for most people-and would make the cost of differing systems clear.

[@TheLifeisgood72]

We don’t know what temperament Bach used

[@jakegearhart]

@@TheLifeisgood72 We know that the temperament he used was a deviation from the standard of the time-meantone, not equal temperament. No matter what Bach did, if it resulted in more playable keys, it necessarily means the fifths becoming more pure.

[@zurich5607]

German accent maybe? Lol, at least once

[@BachTheAnimatedSeries]

Nah... that would be too much "Herr Flick" 🤣

[@RicardoMarlowFlamenco]

According to sources Bach wanted ALL THIRDS SHARP….if that is not Equal tempermant, than wtf is it? Please someone explain how you could tune some 3rd sharper than others, which ones those are specifically, and then play Ab fugue next to C major prelude. I really don’t buy it. Sure maybe a modern digital tuner is slightly different if we could time travel back and check Bach’s instruments….but for cryin out loud it is clear he wanted Equal temp even for his orchestras that he tuned himself as well. It is a simple give and take… and if you don’t do it EQUALLY than you can NOT play in every key. It is very simple IMO.

[@BachTheAnimatedSeries]

Well, it's not as simple as that. Equal temperament didn't exist until the early 20th century and yet many earlier composers made works for very exotic keys (e.g. Chopin's preludes). Personally I believe that also Bach didn't use equal tuning exactly because he wanted every key to sound different, as I showed in the video. This way every key gets its own, specific "mood". Actually, many modern composers seriously dislike equal temperament because it makes everything sound bland and emotionless. What's the point writing in e.g. G# minor when it sounds exactly the same (okay, half a note lower) as the much easier A minor?

[@cangjie12]

So you asked how all thirds can be sharp: just look at the Vallotti temperament for example. In this temperament, the major thirds on C, F and G are slightly sharp, at 27% of a syntonic comma wide. The thirds gradually widen as you move outwards, and the last three major thirds on F#, B and C# have thirds that are 100% of a syntonic comma sharp. There is NO major third that is not sharp. This is the same for almost all circulating temperaments. Only Kirnberger uses a pure third for C major, but that is an exception which almost no-one uses today for Bach. So no, it is not ‘simple’ in the way you think. Try to be a bit less arrogant, and try not to say things based on ignorant opinion alone, without any recourse to facts or actual experience.

[@Persun_McPersonson]

​@@BachTheAnimatedSeries Songs are still written in different keys because the lower or higher overall sound still gives a slightly different feel, even if the relationships between the notes are still all the same. Every key being the same just makes basic musical sense, because the slight differences between the keys in unequal tunings was just a consequence of the tuning rather than an intended feature. Composers did decide to cleverly take advantage of these inequalities to great effect, but to say that equal temperament is bland and emotionless is just way too cynical. Equal temperament can still be really expressive, especially if you use a microtonal tuning.

[@killboybands1]

It's very simple, you can play in every key in Well temperament. Hence, The Well Tempered Clavier's preludes and fugues in all 24 major and minor keys.