Music & Mathematics

I am a Music Lover and a connoisseur of Good Music. I firmly believe in the fact that Music can help our brain to relax and to stimulate thinking. Most of the genres of Music viz., Western Classical, Indian Classical (Carnatic, Hindustani etc.), Jazz and almost anything by AR Rahman can transfix me!

It is beyond doubt that the ethereal beauty of a Musical Piece cannot be always scientifically analyzed, neither do Musicians seek any Mathematical relations between them...

But I , as an Electrical Engineer can't stop thinking of the fantastic relationship between Musical Notes & Mathematics. Following Facts may be surprising but are nonetheless-- facts!

Most of the instruments (especially stringed ones) are made using the Golden Ratio (phi)...

The frequency of notes within an octave in Harmoniums or Pianos, form a Geometric Series (the common ratio being the Twelfth Root of 2)

For any given octave, the standard musical notes form a commutative group with 12 elements.

It is possible to describe "just" intonation in terms of free abelian group.

There are many more such fascinating correlations between Music & Mathematics, which appeal to me a lot!

Of course, when Maestros compose a beautiful piece of music ( MOST PROBABLY WITHOUT KNOWING THE MATHEMATICS BEHIND IT ), I just sit back,listen and Enjoy!!!

Mathematics is inherently Extremely Beautiful & it lends its beauty to music too.

Comments welcome!

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