Supplemented Equal Temperament
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Supplemented Equal Temperament
Do you want your synth or guitar chords to sound in tune? Supplemented Equal Temperament (SET) is an enhanced version of equal temperament with better sounding chords. The chords sound better, because SET is tuned better.
It is a temperament that I created that blends equal temperament and just intonation. It avoids most of the pitfalls of microtonality.
First, it can be played, to one degree or another, on any western instrument.
Second, it does not need special notation.
Third, it does not need special ear training.
In fact, SET can provide a good sound model for chordal ear training. Moreover, the sharps and flats label the notes in the normal way, though there are no enharmonic notes. Also, the music can modulate around the circle of fifths.
Music in SET yields triads that sound fantastic. This is because Supplemented Equal Tempered intonation is optimized for triads. Baroque, classical, folk, country, bluegrass, world music, blues, rock, and pop all work well in SET. I also have a seventh chord version that is designed for blues and funk. However, it is not optimized for jazz or 21st century classical.
Equal tempered instruments can always play at least some notes that work with SET tuned guitars and keyboards. Any fretted, stringed instrument can be tuned to SET. Flexible pitch instruments, of course, just tune up by ear as they always do. Indefinite pitch percussion need no special tuning at all. Taken together, this instrument selection creates the SET ensemble.
There’s great promise in Supplemented Equal Temperament. Try it out and see for yourself!
© 2021 Geoffrey Keith
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