Posted by Steve Dedman on January 05, 2002 at 17:47:49:
In Reply to: Re: Re: Re: Tuning posted by Casey on January 05, 2002 at 02:25:50:
Casey,
It has to do with the tendencies of particular scale degrees in different scales. For example, in E major, G# is the third of the I chord, and is usually played on the low side to acheive the ring that Rick refers to. However, G# is also the 7th (leading tone) scale degree in A major. In that capacity, it is usuallay played on the high side to emphasize the instability of that scale degree and its desire for resolution, especially if it's played in the V7 (E-G#-B-D).
Now to compound matters. In the equal-temperament tuning system, the pitches are already altered to make tuning on a keyboard (or harp, or keyed percussion) work out. For an E major chord to be in tune (In the capacity described above) on a keyboard, the G# (remember G# is the 3rd in an E major chord) re-spelled as Ab must be tuned in such a way that it would be horribly flat as the 5th in the key of Db. So keyboards find an acceptable happy middle ground. As wind players, we are not so constricted. We can adjust to get the G# in tune, and later in the same phrase, adjust the other direction to tune the Ab. However, we must also be sensitive to the tuning of the ensemble. If the keyboard percussion (especially chimes and bells, because they really carry) is playing, the tuning of the ensemble must adjust to that set in stone tuning system. Likewise with a solo played with piano accompaniment. You have to tune to the piano, which means that some of your normal tuning habits must be altered to make it work. The tuning of a brass quintet is quite different from that of solo with piano accompaniment.
So to answer your question, yes they sound the same taken out of the context of an ensemble. But the minute you add another player to add the harmonic structure, the tuning will change and they are no longer the same note because the tuning of the note depends on where the note falls in the harmonic structure.
Hope this helps...
SD