syntonic commas

A form of syntonic comma — A small comma-type interval between two musical notes, equal to the frequency ratio 81:80 (= 1.0125) or around 21.51 cents. It often manifests itself as the difference between the Pythagorean major third of 81:64 and the classic major third of 5:4, between the Pythagorean minor third of 32:27 and the classic minor third of 6:5, and between the "major whole tone" of 9:8 and "minor whole tone" of 10:9.

Meanings

noun
  1. pluralplural of syntonic comma
Cite this entry
APA

syntonic commas. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/syntonic%20commas

MLA

“syntonic commas.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/syntonic%20commas. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “syntonic commas,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/syntonic%20commas.

Source: syntonic commas on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.