Hi, Theodore.

Well, I'm not questioning that the resolution of the human ear is about 
1 Hz under the experimental conditions. The problem I have is with your 
logic. You have been saying, I think, that we cannot discriminate less 
than 1 Hz difference is because 1 Hz is an integer and therefore 
indicates a complete wave cycle. So, right conclusion (under the 
experimental conditions), but wrong reason.

Assume that our experiment uses consecutive sine waves (and, as others 
have pointed out, this has nothing to do with harpsichord tuning).

If the tones are played for 4 seconds each, then the 415 and 415.3 tones 
will go through 1660 and 1661.2 cycles respectively. According to your 
logic, this might be (barely) within the capabilities of human 
discrimination. If the experimental tones are played for 40 seconds 
each, there will be 41500 vs 41530 cycles each, all integers and 
therefore possible to discriminate.

It is not reasonable that pitch discrimination, under the experimental 
conditions, could be so tightly linked to the length of the wave. In 
fact, I have seen nothing at all in the literature that indicates that 
there could be so tight a relationship.

Pitch discrimination has to do with the resolution of the hearing 
apparatus, not with the physics of the sound waves, as evidenced by the 
fact that instruments can detect far subtler pitch differences than 
humans can.


best,
  Stuart

-- 
i still have a very small website
http://dustyfeet.com

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Note:  opinions  expressed on HPSCHD-L are those of the  individual con-
tributors and not necessarily  those of the list owners  nor of the Uni-
versity of Iowa.  For a brief  summary of list  commands, send mail to
[log in to unmask]  saying  HELP .
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::