Mondo Knows Facts
Halving a string raises it an octave
Other simple length ratios give fifth, fourth and third A string at two thirds of its length sounds a fifth higher, the ratio Pythagoras described. Fret positions on a guitar follow a fixed geometric progression instead. Instrument makers use the relationship when scaling instruments of different sizes. It sits in Mondo's music collection, one of 200 facts that each trace back to the reference below.
Where this comes from
Facts that can change over time are reviewed and updated. If something here looks wrong, Mondo would rather know than be confidently incorrect.
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More facts like this
A bow makes sound by sticking and slippingRosin gives the hair enough friction to catch the string and release itSimple frequency ratios sound calmOctaves are two to one and fifths three to two, and they blend rather than clashTwelve pure fifths overshoot seven octavesThe gap is called the Pythagorean comma, about 23 centsMusicians tune by listening for beatsTwo nearly matched frequencies produce a slow throb that stops when they agreeA grand piano carries around 20 tonnes of string tensionA cast iron plate holds the load so the case does not foldA violin's four strings are tuned in fifthsG, D, A and E cover two octaves and a sixth between them
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Tags: strings, intervals, physics
Halving a string raises it an octave: the short answers
- Where does this come from, and can I check it?
- Other simple length ratios give fifth, fourth and third. The figure is taken from Britannica, which is linked in full on this page. Every fact on Mondo Knows names its source rather than repeating an unsourced claim.
- Is this really a music fact?
- Yes. It sits on the Music shelf, one of 2,600 sourced facts grouped into space, animals, the human body, history, science and more. Category pages collect every fact in the same field.
- What else can I read about it?
- The links under the fact point to a quiz, game, puzzle or calculator on the same subject, and the shelf below shows related facts. The wording here is original, and quoted phrases are marked as quotations.