Intonation

– Intonation is the Art of Centre a Pitch within a Set or Group of Tones 

– No Player Achieves 100% “Pitch Accuracy” when Starting to Blow or Strike a Instrument (as a Computer can Do), i.e. there will be Always a Delay Until the Pitch is More or Less Steady and this Delay is Quasi the “Intonation” (Einschwingphase)

– Especially Members of the Violin Family (Such as Violin, Viola, Cello and Bass) have No Frets/ Keys or any Type of Indicator Where a Certain Tone Lies (Unlike the Indicators on a Guitar, Bass or Piano)

– this means their Sense of Intonation is Completely Determined by Touch or by Ear 

– they are Able to Find the Centre of a Pitch because of a Relationship of Tones to One another (even True for Players with a Perfect Pitch)

– Intonation is a Lifelong Obsession for String Players

• Horn Players Intonation Tends to Favorite Starting on the Flat Side Until they Meet the Desired Pitch 

• the Overall Intonation Time Varies from Player to Player and Instrument to Instrument but Sits Mostly between a Couple of ms to 2 Seconds (Up to Maximum 4 Seconds) and the Range of Pitch Drifts are Usually between 2 Semitones (i.e. + 100 Cent and + 100 Cent)