{"id":40255,"date":"2026-05-15T15:17:34","date_gmt":"2026-05-15T19:17:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/?p=40255"},"modified":"2026-05-15T15:17:36","modified_gmt":"2026-05-15T19:17:36","slug":"what-is-microtonality","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/what-is-microtonality\/","title":{"rendered":"What is microtonality in music? Definition and why it matters"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p style=\"font-size:15px\" class=\"has-text-align-center\"><strong>Illustration:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.filipfroehlich.de\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\"><strong>Filip Fr\u00f6hlich<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Musicians have always pushed boundaries and questioned rules, but microtonality is about challenging entire <em>foundations<\/em>.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The Western music theory you might&#8217;ve learned is certainly a powerful tool for composing sounds with intention. Yet, it shouldn&#8217;t be looked at as the sole option\u2014in fact, entire cultures around the world have found a way to expand on this approach: microtonality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But what <em>is<\/em> microtonality? How can you begin experimenting with it using the instruments you already have, and how can it change the way you think about your creative process?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This guide is for the curious, open, and obsessed producers. We&#8217;ll explore how to look beyond the chromatic scale that&#8217;s at the heart of Western music theory, and how you can apply microtonality to your own music, whether as a defining element or an ornamental touch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Feel free to use the table of contents below to easily navigate to a specific section.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What you&#8217;ll learn:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"#Definition\"><strong>What is microtonality?<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#History\"><strong>The history of microtonal music<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#HowToMake\"><strong>How to make microtonal music<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Let&#8217;s dive in!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-background has-link-color wp-elements-f5a2734ea82e3ec51d9db4acbad33d87\" style=\"background-color:#62daff\"><a href=\"https:\/\/splice.com\/plans\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>New subscribers can try all of Splice\u2014including 200 monthly sample download credits, full access to all premium INSTRUMENT presets, and more\u2014for $4.99\/mo.<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"Definition\">What is microtonality?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Microtonality<\/strong> describes music that features intervals smaller than the standard semitones found in the 12-note chromatic scale.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In Western music theory, we&#8217;re provided with 12 notes that span an octave, with equal distance between each other. This is referred to as <strong>TET,<\/strong> or tone equal temperament, and Western equal temperament is only one tuning system among many.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-audio alignwide\"><audio controls src=\"https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/12-tet.mp3\" preload=\"auto\"><\/audio><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-small-font-size\">The Western 12-note chromatic scale<\/p>\n\n\n\n<style>\n  .tet-table {\n    width: 100%;\n    border-collapse: collapse;\n    font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\n    text-align: center;\n  }\n\n  .tet-table th,\n  .tet-table td {\n    border: 1px solid #ccc;\n    padding: 8px;\n  }\n\n  .tet-table th {\n    background-color: #f4f4f4;\n  }\n\n  .tet-table tr:nth-child(even) {\n    background-color: #fafafa;\n  }\n<\/style>\n\n<table class=\"tet-table\">\n  <thead>\n    <tr>\n      <th>Step<\/th>\n      <th>Chromatic note<\/th>\n    <\/tr>\n  <\/thead>\n  <tbody>\n    <tr><td>0<\/td><td>C<\/td><\/tr>\n    <tr><td>1<\/td><td>C\u266f \/ D\u266d<\/td><\/tr>\n    <tr><td>2<\/td><td>D<\/td><\/tr>\n    <tr><td>3<\/td><td>D\u266f \/ E\u266d<\/td><\/tr>\n    <tr><td>4<\/td><td>E<\/td><\/tr>\n    <tr><td>5<\/td><td>F<\/td><\/tr>\n    <tr><td>6<\/td><td>F\u266f \/ G\u266d<\/td><\/tr>\n    <tr><td>7<\/td><td>G<\/td><\/tr>\n    <tr><td>8<\/td><td>G\u266f \/ A\u266d<\/td><\/tr>\n    <tr><td>9<\/td><td>A<\/td><\/tr>\n    <tr><td>10<\/td><td>A\u266f \/ B\u266d<\/td><\/tr>\n    <tr><td>11<\/td><td>B<\/td><\/tr>\n    <tr><td>12<\/td><td>C (Octave)<\/td><\/tr>\n  <\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n<p>In microtonal music, we introduce additional pitches between the octaves. Rather than 12 notes in a chromatic scale, we suddenly have 24, 31, or even more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-audio alignwide\"><audio controls src=\"https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/24-tet.mp3\" preload=\"auto\"><\/audio><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-small-font-size\">The 24-TET scale (also known as the quarter tone scale)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<style>\n  .tet-table {\n    width: 100%;\n    border-collapse: collapse;\n    font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\n    text-align: center;\n  }\n\n  .tet-table th,\n  .tet-table td {\n    border: 1px solid #ccc;\n    padding: 8px;\n  }\n\n  .tet-table th {\n    background-color: #f4f4f4;\n  }\n\n  .tet-table tr:nth-child(even) {\n    background-color: #fafafa;\n  }\n<\/style>\n\n<table class=\"tet-table\">\n  <thead>\n    <tr>\n      <th>Step<\/th>\n      <th>24-TET note<\/th>\n    <\/tr>\n  <\/thead>\n  <tbody>\n    <tr><td>0<\/td><td>C<\/td><\/tr>\n    <tr><td>1<\/td><td>C half-sharp<\/td><\/tr>\n    <tr><td>2<\/td><td>C\u266f \/ D\u266d<\/td><\/tr>\n    <tr><td>3<\/td><td>D\u266d half-sharp<\/td><\/tr>\n    <tr><td>4<\/td><td>D<\/td><\/tr>\n    <tr><td>5<\/td><td>D half-sharp<\/td><\/tr>\n    <tr><td>6<\/td><td>D\u266f \/ E\u266d<\/td><\/tr>\n    <tr><td>7<\/td><td>E\u266d half-sharp<\/td><\/tr>\n    <tr><td>8<\/td><td>E<\/td><\/tr>\n    <tr><td>9<\/td><td>E half-sharp<\/td><\/tr>\n    <tr><td>10<\/td><td>F<\/td><\/tr>\n    <tr><td>11<\/td><td>F half-sharp<\/td><\/tr>\n    <tr><td>12<\/td><td>F\u266f \/ G\u266d<\/td><\/tr>\n    <tr><td>13<\/td><td>G\u266d half-sharp<\/td><\/tr>\n    <tr><td>14<\/td><td>G<\/td><\/tr>\n    <tr><td>15<\/td><td>G half-sharp<\/td><\/tr>\n    <tr><td>16<\/td><td>G\u266f \/ A\u266d<\/td><\/tr>\n    <tr><td>17<\/td><td>A\u266d half-sharp<\/td><\/tr>\n    <tr><td>18<\/td><td>A<\/td><\/tr>\n    <tr><td>19<\/td><td>A half-sharp<\/td><\/tr>\n    <tr><td>20<\/td><td>A\u266f \/ B\u266d<\/td><\/tr>\n    <tr><td>21<\/td><td>B\u266d half-sharp<\/td><\/tr>\n    <tr><td>22<\/td><td>B<\/td><\/tr>\n    <tr><td>23<\/td><td>B half-sharp<\/td><\/tr>\n    <tr><td>24<\/td><td>C (Octave)<\/td><\/tr>\n  <\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"History\">The history of microtonal music<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Microtonality is no modern invention. The deep musical traditions in regions like modern-day \u200b\u200bSWANA (Southwest Asia and North Africa) have defined their sound by expanding past where Western nations set their notation limitations. Whether it be the viral Angine de Poitrine or users of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rogerlinndesign.com\/linnstrument\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">LinnStrument<\/a> (launched in 2014), the rest of the world is beginning to catch on to the power, possibilities, and pure fun of microtonal music.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe title=\"Angine de Poitrine - Full Performance (Live on KEXP)\" width=\"370\" height=\"208\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/0Ssi-9wS1so?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>If you&#8217;d like to embark on your studies of different music theories that embrace microtonality, start with:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Arabic maqamat \/ Turkish makams<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Indian ragas<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Indonesian gamelan tuning<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"HowToMake\">How to make microtonal music<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If you&#8217;d like to make your own microtonal music, there are plenty of instruments that have the ability to play more than 12 notes to an octave. Wind instruments, fretless stringed instruments, and the human voice aren&#8217;t limited to semitones. The simple bending of a guitar string can be microtonal, as can be a gradual slide with a woodwind. In electronic production, <a href=\"https:\/\/splice.com\/sounds\/instruments\/fx-risers\/samples\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">a riser<\/a> is indeed touching upon the world of microtonality, but doing so in a transitional way rather than allowing these under-explored notes to sustain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For further exploration, you can also <a href=\"https:\/\/splice.com\/sounds\/search\/samples?filepath=microtonal&amp;ac_uuid=a6d75846-0b45-46c8-8180-824e87a6b8b0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">browse microtonal samples on Splice<\/a> to train your ear and incorporate with these sounds in your own productions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-audio alignwide\"><audio controls src=\"https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/EX_MBV_132_chiefs_house_microtonal_madness.wav\" preload=\"auto\"><\/audio><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-small-font-size\">Some microtonal percussion\u2014<a href=\"https:\/\/splice.com\/sounds\/sample\/b7519513bfb49879b09cbe00cdd3f7f4fd5639e84620844e917943b1f9540c97\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">get the sample here<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Beyond acoustic instrumentation, there are a select few hardware instruments that make experimenting with microtonal music accessible. These instruments can give you access to quarter tones or even smaller divisions between octaves all in one place, allowing you to perform microtonally live.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If interested and your budget allows, you can start with:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/dualo.com\/en\/exquis\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Dualo Equis<\/a> (from $250)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.hakenaudio.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Haken Audio Continuum Series<\/a> (from $1,000)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.rogerlinndesignstore.com\/Default.asp\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">LinnStrument<\/a> (from $1,150)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/synthstrom.com\/product\/deluge\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Synthstrom Audible Deluge<\/a> (from $1,400)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.lumatone.io\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Lumatone Isomorphic Keyboard<\/a> (from $4,250)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Many products that either center or better support microtonality will also brand themselves as <strong>MPE,<\/strong> or multi-polyphonic expression instruments. Both of these ways of rethinking traditional MIDI hardware represent some of the most unique ways to shape your sound.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There are also countless software instruments that allow you to detune the more affordable <a href=\"https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/ableton-move-guide\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Ableton Move<\/a>, or even the most <a href=\"https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/what-is-a-midi-keyboard\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">basic MIDI keyboard.<\/a> The unique challenge this introduces is experimenting using a combination of tracks: one in standard tuning and one tuned up or down a quarter tone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The classical composer Ivan Wyschnegradsky famously did this by providing two separate staffs of sheet music for the piano: one tuned in standard, and one tuned microtonally. While this represents an outlier rather than a trend, it shows the lengths we as musicians go to manifest the sounds within our heads.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure><iframe src=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/embed\/album\/5Mtxo9z4mlX2XiwTFqPpbm?si=ckjAWTWARiGEV1czpVpcNw\" width=\"100%\" height=\"80\" frameborder=\"0\" allowtransparency=\"true\" allow=\"encrypted-media\"><\/iframe><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Today, we can use the same tricks using individual tracks within a DAW. You can start with the free and open-source <a href=\"https:\/\/surge-synthesizer.github.io\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Surge XT,<\/a> or by checking out <a href=\"https:\/\/en.xen.wiki\/w\/List_of_microtonal_software_plugins\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">this list<\/a> for ways to experiment without hardware.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Redefine your limits with Splice<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Exploring microtonal music is only one of numerous ways that you can think beyond the &#8220;traditional&#8221; rules of music creation. For example, sampling entered popular music through hip hop only a few decades ago, and is now a standard across nearly every genre.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With Splice, you can access the world&#8217;s largest library of samples including <a href=\"https:\/\/splice.com\/sounds\/search\/samples?filepath=microtonal&amp;ac_uuid=a6d75846-0b45-46c8-8180-824e87a6b8b0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">microtonal,<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/splice.com\/sounds\/genres\/shoegaze\/samples\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">game audio<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/splice.com\/sounds\/your-sounds\/samples?tags=f7479b0d-ead9-443c-9a9e-c18884a22cc5&amp;sort=recency&amp;order=DESC\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">shoegaze,<\/a> and much more. Only through constant experimentation and questioning can we expand our artistic horizons, as perhaps Angine de Poitrine have just shown us. Will you be next?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\">Explore royalty-free melodies, chord progressions, and grooves by key, BPM, genre, and more:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button aligncenter\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/splice.com\/sounds\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Join Splice today<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Learn about what microtonality is, dive into its history, and explore how you can apply it in your own music.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":126,"featured_media":40537,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1699,1696],"tags":[165,1254],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v22.9 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>What is Microtonality in Music? Definition &amp; Why It Matters - Blog | Splice<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Learn about what microtonality is, dive into its history, and explore how you can apply it in your own music.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/what-is-microtonality\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"What is Microtonality in Music? Definition &amp; Why It Matters - Blog | Splice\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Learn about what microtonality is, dive into its history, and explore how you can apply it in your own music.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/what-is-microtonality\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Blog | Splice\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/Splice\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-05-15T19:17:34+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-05-15T19:17:36+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/0426-What-is-microtonality_BlogPost.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1920\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1200\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Matt Brooks\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@splice\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@splice\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Matt Brooks\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"5 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/what-is-microtonality\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/what-is-microtonality\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Matt Brooks\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/3acfa22e84539606b1c09c470c6f7902\"},\"headline\":\"What is microtonality in music? 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