"Ed" <riddlereader@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote in message
news:2f4409eb-e516-431d-8800-7153ce79cf2b@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> How far down on the piano can you play various intervals?
>
> I thought there was a lower limit for each interval (e.g., octaves OK
> anywhere on the keyboard, fifths OK in the second octave or above,
> thirds...etc, or something like that), but I can't find it.
>
> To my surprise, I haven't been able to find anything online. Am I
> using the wrong terminology?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Ed
Ooh, this will be a good one.
Ed, you *can* play a minor second on the lowest 2 notes (the A and Bb) of
the piano if you like. That doesn't necessarily mean they'll produce a
sound
you like.
How far down you can play (assuming you're desiring a traditionally
"pleasant" sound) is based on many things - the tuning of the instrument,
the timbre of the instrument, the design of the instrument, and so on.
Our 9' Steinway D sounds a low Db major chord, voiced Db - Ab - F from the
bottom up quite well. The upright piano up in the classroom, even in tune,
produces mud for the same chord.
So what you're speaking of can't be given in any specific terms. I'd say
though, basically, the larger the interval is, and the more consonant it
is,
the lower it can be played without ill effect.
Using C1 as the first C on the piano:
C1 - C2 - G2 - C3 - E3 (or Eb3)
You might want to avoid anything but octaves below C2.
5ths would be ok starting at C2.
4ths at about G2.
6ths at about G2, and 3rds at about C3.
Other dissonances would follow similar rules - generally speaking low 7ths
would be better than low 2nds. However, someone may certainly want the
effect of the lowest two notes on the piano as a percussive, canon, or
thunder effect. So they're all "useable", it just depends on what you want
to use them for!
I should mention also that, wider intervals also seem more consonant to us
than their smaller companions: A Major 10th is "more euphonious" sounding,
starting on a low note than a Major 3rd starting on the same note. So
obviously, voicing comes into play as well.
But to be sure, the only thing you can do is sit down at a piano, play
these
intervals, and see what happens. Then use your interpretations as general
guidelines as all pianos (and other instrumental combinations) will vary.
As
they say on the internet, YMMV.
Best,
Steve
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