Re: [scots-l] What makes a style "Scottish?"

[David Kilpatrick]

Alexander wrote:
> 

If the interval between A and a flatted C#
> were a deliberate musical choice in the key of A major then the interval
> between G and B in the key of G major should also be a flatted B. It
> never is.

You've never tuned a guitar by ear then. One of the nice things about
the fifth tuning on violins, mandolins etc is the welcome absence of an
open string third interval. If you tune the G-B interval (3rd and 2nd
strings) of the guitar to the best possible open string harmony by ear,
you end up with flat B.

I play the small 18th c wire-strung guittar and here the instrument is
tuned to a hexachord - two triads with major thirds, cegc'e'g'. If you
tune it by ear without using the frets, and try to get the major third
right it is almost invariably flat.

A beat-free, harmonious sounding major third interval is definitely flat
and to be correct you have to train your ear to accept a slightly
harsher interval (if you don't then the open string fails to agree with
the fretted note corresponding to it, which sounds awful).

David
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