Roland MP-500 owner manual Changing Tuning Curves, Key Temperament Description

Convenient Functions

When you want to perform using a tuning other than equal

temperament, you’ll need to specify the keynote (tonic for

major, sixth for minor) appropriate for the key of the song

you want to play.

Key	Temperament Description
C4	Equal	With this tuning, the octave is divided
		into twelve equal intervals. Regardless
		of the interval, very little ambiguity is
		produced.
D4	Pythagorean	Developed by the philosopher
		Pythagoras as a method of tuning that
		resolved the ambiguousness of fourths
		and fifths. As a result, melodies sound
		cleaner, but a certain amount of
		ambiguousness is produced with
		triads.
E4	Just Major	This tuning eliminates the
		ambiguousness of fifths and thirds.
		This tuning is not suitable for melodies,
		and transposition is impractical, but
		rich sonorities can be produced by
		chords.
F4	Just Minor	Just Major and Minor tunings are
		different. You can get the same effects
		in the minor scale as in the major scale.
G4	Mean Tone	A partial compromise of the Just Major
		tuning, created to make transposition
		possible.
A4	Werckmeister	A combination of the Mean Tone and
		Pythagorean tunings. This tuning can
		be used in all keys.
B4	Kirnberger	As a result of improvements made to
		the Mean Tone and Just temperaments,

it is relatively tolerant towards transposition, and can be used to play in all keys.

NOTE

When performing in ensemble with other instruments, be aware that depending on the key, there may be some shifting of the pitch. Please tune to the other instruments in the ensemble.

NOTE

When you play back a recorded performance, it will be played using the temperament that was selected at that time.

Changing Tuning Curves

Pianos are commonly tuned so pitches in the lower registers are adjusted relatively flat, and pitches in the higher registers are tuned sharper compared to equal temperament. This kind of tuning method for the piano is called “Stretch Tuning.”

The graphic representation of the differences in pitch when comparing equal-tempered tuning with the actual tuning used is called the “Tuning Curve.” Changing the tuning curve results in a subtle change in the sound of the chords. MP-500 can switch the tuning curve.

“Type 2” (Stretch Tuning) is the power-on default for the tuning curve.

fig.7-10

Electric	Electric	Harpsi-	Vibra-	Pipe	Strings
Piano 1 Piano 2 Piano 1	Piano 2	chord	phone	Organ

Tone

Volume

Reverb Chorus

Electric

Electric

Harpsi-

Vibra-

Pipe

Tempo

Beat

Play

Rec

Demo Song

Piano 1 Piano 2 Piano 1

Piano 2

chord

phone

Organ Strings

Sound On/Off

Tone	Metronome
Power
	C3 D3

While holding down the [Piano 1] button, [Electric Piano 1] button, and [Harpsichord] button, the “C3” note to turn the setting Type 1, or press the “D3” note to turn the setting Type 2.

fig.7-11.e

			Type 1 Type 2
Piano 1	Electric	Electric	Harpsi-
	Piano 2 Piano 1	Piano 2	chord
			C3D3
While holding down three buttons
		Press one of these keys
Key	Type	Description
C3	Type 1	Standard tuning curve. This is the right
		choice when using Dual Play (p. 16), or
		when playing in ensemble with other
		instruments.
D3	Type 2	A tuning curve wherein the low and
		high registers are widened slightly—

low pitches are a little lower, the high pitches a little higher (Stretch Tuning). Appropriate for piano solos.

NOTE

This setting is only available with piano tones.

29