I found this study really surprising. It seemed obvious to me that there's a physical basis for why intervals like a perfect fifth sound good. I.e. the 3:2 rati

I found this study really surprising. It seemed obvious to me that there's a physical basis for why intervals like a perfect fifth sound good. I.e. the 3:2 ratio means the waveforms mesh nicely. (By the way, all the talk of integer ratios seems like numerology, but if you look at the waveforms and frequency spectrum then it makes sense.) But the investigated groups didn't prefer consonant chords over dissonant ones, unlike Western listeners. But they did dislike "roughness" such as a minor second (where you end up with beating), so they are capable of identifying notes that don't go together and have some preferences. P.S. For those who didn't read the study, it has nothing to do with musical tastes and liking one type of music over another (which is obviously cultural). It's more low-level than that.