Pythagoras and the Musical Ratios Research Paper

Pythagoras and the Musical Ratios - Research Paper Example The then difference in sound pitch was attributed to differences in weight of hammers that were being used in the shop. Pythagoras then ventured into an exploration mission of researching on creation of different pitches of sound based on ratios. Using a one stringed instrument, the mathematicians varied the lengths at which the string would be stopped and he observed the generated sound pitches (Richards, p. 30, 31). Through the experiments, Pythagoras and his followers observed that by using different ratios, different sounds could be created that, when played together, resulted in a pleasant music to the audience. He then identified three particular ratios that are still applicable in the present music. The first ratio, known as the musical octave, is obtained by using the ration 2:1 on a stringed instrument. The other ratios, â€Å"musical forth† and â€Å"musical fifth† are generated by the ratios 4:3 and 3:2 respectively. The ratios were later found to bear a relationship with the weights of the hammers that were used in the workshop from which Pythagoras heard sounds with varying pitches (Karamanides, p.