Effect of Melodic Parameters on Ability to Make Fine-Tuning Responses in Context
William Robert Swaffield · Journal of Research in Music Education · 1974
The effect upon fine tuning of four contextual melodic factors: timbre, intensity, duration, and variable stimulation, has been examined. Students listened to 108 ascending scale passages followed by an extended tone which they tuned to the implied tonic of the passage. It was concluded that all four contextual factors have significant effects on tuning, and that there is a strong tendency for subjects to be influenced by the initial frequency of the tuning tone. It was also found that higher intensities produce tunings of lower frequencies and that horn timbre is easiest to tune accurately and violin is the most difficult.