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A comment on Why are D-sharp and E-flat considered to be two different notes?. Parent comment

Re:Why are D-sharp and E-flat considered to be two different... by jayknight on Sunday August 28, 2022 @08:10AM (#32627770)
Violins and family(typically) tune their instruments with 3/2 just fifths. You get the A (440) from the oboe and tune the rest of your strings with perfect just fifths. That means sometimes the cellos' C strings will be noticably too low in some circumstances so you'll see them finger an "open C" just above the nut to make it sound right.
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Re:Why are D-sharp and E-flat considered to be two different... by dbalatero on Sunday August 28, 2022 @08:16AM (#32627805)
I actually tune my C string slightly sharp for this reason!
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Re:Why are D-sharp and E-flat considered to be two different... by wizofaus on Sunday August 28, 2022 @12:19PM (#32629556)
It's 2% of a semitone off by my understanding. I thought I had pretty good ears but I really doubt I could pick that. Open strings do often stick out in general on string instruments though, for a combination of reasons, lack of vibrato and ability to micro-adjust tuning presumably being the main ones (but even the tone is different, I assume based on the difference between having one end fixed by a soft fleshy substance vs the wooden nut).
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Re:Why are D-sharp and E-flat considered to be two different... by palimpsests on Sunday August 28, 2022 @12:31PM (#32629662)
the last reason you gave is exactly why open strings sound different. check out zero-fret guitars.
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Re:Why are D-sharp and E-flat considered to be two different... by Bud on Sunday August 28, 2022 @03:22PM (#32631223)
Except you very very often don't get an A=440, since a lot of orchestras don't tune to that pitch and early-music orchestras are a full half-tone below that, etc.
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Re:Why are D-sharp and E-flat considered to be two different... by JumpCrisscross on Sunday August 28, 2022 @08:35AM (#32627918)
Huh, is that why an open C on a viola always buzzed wrong?
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