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> If a musician opens a new composition and they are given a 4/4 beat and equal tempered tuning by default, it is implied that other musical systems do not exis

> If a musician opens a new composition and they are given a 4/4 beat and equal tempered tuning by default, it is implied that other musical systems do not exist, or at least that they are of less value. This level of thought is getting so tedious.

quantified 6y ago
So true. It’s just a default. No font is less value than Times New Roman just because it’s there when you start a new Word doc. Also not too worried about the hegemony of the piano-style keyboard. Like physical instruments, electronic ones can be made to suit your needs. Same for composers and automation.
- picolisp 6y ago
  What popular intruments can be made to play microtunal / non-Equal tempermant without major modifications? Sitar, and fretless stringed instruments come to mind, but I wouldnt say "like physical instruments" because the culture of building musical tools is so heavily influenced by western musicians.
  - quantified 6y ago
    I don’t play wind, but I think trombone fits in. Popular is at odds with “doing things the majority of people don’t do” of course. Like asking about popular non-QWERTY Apple keyboards. Unpopular doesn’t mean “you suck for wanting it”, just “hey not our thing, do it if you want to.” You need compositions and maybe an audience. 4/4 and equal temperament just benefit from a network effect. There is a significant culture of non-Western instruments and non-Western musicians. Probably a good starting point.
picolisp 6y ago
Do you feel that this isn't true? I was raised by musicians, and am an (amateur) musician. It rings true to my feelings and experiences. It not just our software but inside our hears and ears. We want to play and replicate what we hear and know and western musicians hear mostly western music, based on (but not exclusively on) 4/4, equal temperament.
- quantified 6y ago
  You got downvoted but I sympathize. Everyone likes what they like, and are heavily influenced by what they hear (and grew up hearing, particularly). It’s not wrong, just how we generally are. Western music tolerates more syncopation and chromatic sound than it did 200 years ago, that’s something. If all you listen to is pop, you’re missing a LOT.
- tengbretson 6y ago
  Learning that something that you cannot see still exists usually occurs by 6 months of age, so I'm challenging the idea that this is a problem electronic music artists face.
- jjk166 6y ago
  You like 4/4 western music and want to play it, but you are clearly aware of alternatives. As soon as you know what a time signature is, you know that there are many possibilities. Maybe if someone knows nothing of music theory and has never heard anything that wasn't 4/4 they would be unaware this was a variable parameter, but that's exactly the kind of user who needs a simple, user-friendly default.
flipcoder 6y ago
Yeah it's such an irrational accusation. If that were true, why would music programs put the option to change it at the top of the screen? This agenda-driven criticism makes me feel that someone was reading about colonialism and started getting angry at everything in their life.

quantified 6y ago

So true. It’s just a default. No font is less value than Times New Roman just because it’s there when you start a new Word doc. Also not too worried about the hegemony of the piano-style keyboard. Like physical instruments, electronic ones can be made to suit your needs. Same for composers and automation.

picolisp 6y ago
What popular intruments can be made to play microtunal / non-Equal tempermant without major modifications? Sitar, and fretless stringed instruments come to mind, but I wouldnt say "like physical instruments" because the culture of building musical tools is so heavily influenced by western musicians.
- quantified 6y ago
  I don’t play wind, but I think trombone fits in. Popular is at odds with “doing things the majority of people don’t do” of course. Like asking about popular non-QWERTY Apple keyboards. Unpopular doesn’t mean “you suck for wanting it”, just “hey not our thing, do it if you want to.” You need compositions and maybe an audience. 4/4 and equal temperament just benefit from a network effect. There is a significant culture of non-Western instruments and non-Western musicians. Probably a good starting point.

picolisp 6y ago

Do you feel that this isn't true? I was raised by musicians, and am an (amateur) musician. It rings true to my feelings and experiences. It not just our software but inside our hears and ears. We want to play and replicate what we hear and know and western musicians hear mostly western music, based on (but not exclusively on) 4/4, equal temperament.

quantified 6y ago
You got downvoted but I sympathize. Everyone likes what they like, and are heavily influenced by what they hear (and grew up hearing, particularly). It’s not wrong, just how we generally are. Western music tolerates more syncopation and chromatic sound than it did 200 years ago, that’s something. If all you listen to is pop, you’re missing a LOT.
tengbretson 6y ago
Learning that something that you cannot see still exists usually occurs by 6 months of age, so I'm challenging the idea that this is a problem electronic music artists face.
jjk166 6y ago
You like 4/4 western music and want to play it, but you are clearly aware of alternatives. As soon as you know what a time signature is, you know that there are many possibilities. Maybe if someone knows nothing of music theory and has never heard anything that wasn't 4/4 they would be unaware this was a variable parameter, but that's exactly the kind of user who needs a simple, user-friendly default.

flipcoder 6y ago

Yeah it's such an irrational accusation. If that were true, why would music programs put the option to change it at the top of the screen? This agenda-driven criticism makes me feel that someone was reading about colonialism and started getting angry at everything in their life.