Pythagorean comma
E1166779
UNEXPLORED
The Pythagorean comma is a small pitch discrepancy that arises in Pythagorean tuning when twelve pure fifths fail to align exactly with seven octaves, highlighting the inherent mathematical imperfection in this tuning system.
All labels observed (1)
| Label | Occurrences |
|---|---|
| Pythagorean comma canonical | 1 |
How this entity was disambiguated
This entity first appeared as the object of triple T15602123 — resolving that mention is where its identity was fixed. The disambiguator weighed these candidate entities and picked the highlighted one (or “None”, minting a new entity). This is how homonymy is resolved: the same surface form can point to different entities.
NED1
Entity disambiguation (via context triple)
gpt-5-mini-2025-08-07
Target entity: Pythagorean comma Context triple: [Pythagorean tuning, hasCharacteristicInterval, Pythagorean comma]
-
A.
Pythagorean tuning
Pythagorean tuning is a musical tuning system based on pure perfect fifths derived from simple whole-number ratios, historically linked to the mathematical and philosophical ideas of the Pythagoreans.
-
B.
Equal temperament
Equal temperament is a musical tuning system that divides the octave into equal steps, allowing instruments like the piano to play in all keys with consistent intonation.
-
C.
the Tristan chord
The Tristan chord is a famously ambiguous and harmonically innovative chord in Richard Wagner’s opera *Tristan und Isolde* that is often cited as a pivotal moment in the development of modern Western music.
-
D.
well temperament
Well temperament is a historical tuning system for keyboard instruments that allows playing in all keys with distinct key colors while avoiding the severe dissonances of earlier unequal temperaments.
-
E.
Hijaz scale
The Hijaz scale is a Middle Eastern musical mode characterized by its distinctive augmented second interval, often used to evoke an exotic or Arabic sound in melodies.
- F. None of above. chosen
- G. Unsure - the case is ambiguous/there is not enough information to decide.
NED2
Entity disambiguation (via description)
gpt-5-mini-2025-08-07
Target entity: Pythagorean comma Target entity description: The Pythagorean comma is a small pitch discrepancy that arises in Pythagorean tuning when twelve pure fifths fail to align exactly with seven octaves, highlighting the inherent mathematical imperfection in this tuning system.
-
A.
Pythagorean tuning
Pythagorean tuning is a musical tuning system based on pure perfect fifths derived from simple whole-number ratios, historically linked to the mathematical and philosophical ideas of the Pythagoreans.
-
B.
Equal temperament
Equal temperament is a musical tuning system that divides the octave into equal steps, allowing instruments like the piano to play in all keys with consistent intonation.
-
C.
the Tristan chord
The Tristan chord is a famously ambiguous and harmonically innovative chord in Richard Wagner’s opera *Tristan und Isolde* that is often cited as a pivotal moment in the development of modern Western music.
-
D.
well temperament
Well temperament is a historical tuning system for keyboard instruments that allows playing in all keys with distinct key colors while avoiding the severe dissonances of earlier unequal temperaments.
-
E.
Hijaz scale
The Hijaz scale is a Middle Eastern musical mode characterized by its distinctive augmented second interval, often used to evoke an exotic or Arabic sound in melodies.
- F. None of above. chosen
Referenced by (1)
Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.