Pitch Contrast in Meter Perception

• Main Author: Lay, Nigel O.
• Published: Trace: Tennessee Research and Creative Exchange 2008
• Subjects: Psychology
• Online Access: http://trace.tennessee.edu/utk_gradthes/396

The role of large pitch contrasts in meter perception of three-pulse-train polyrhythms was investigated. Subjects were presented with several polyrhythmic configurations having both small and large pitch contrasts and were asked to tap the meter, or beat. Some subjects preferred meters based on the lower-pitch and slowerprogressing pulse trains, while others preferred unit-based meters. Results revealed that three-pulse-train polyrhythms with large pitch contrast do not result in notably different meter perceptions from those with smaller pitch contrast. These results support previous findings which showed that meter is determined by multiple factors, such as pulse-train pitch and relative pulse-train tempo.