mistunings

Instruments slightly off-key

Mistunings are instances of being out of tune or incorrectly tuned.

A piano with mistunings has keys that don't sound at their proper pitch.

The term applies to musical instruments, radio frequencies, or any system requiring precise calibration: The mistunings in the violin section were distracting.

Figuratively, mistunings can describe any failure of proper alignment or adjustment.

musical

detuning

Shifting from correct pitch

flatLacking vertical variation
sharpFine-edged, or astute
off-keyWrong pitch, musically

pitch · intonation · dissonance · discord · temperament · cents · interval · semitone · overtones · harmonics

error

miscalibration

Incorrect precision setting

driftGradual movement, no direction
deviationDeparture from expected path
inaccuracyLack of precision

fault · glitch · malfunction · defect · anomaly · distortion · irregularity · offset · variance · tolerance

adjustment

calibration

Adjusting for measurement accuracy

recalibrationAdjusting measurement standards again
correctionFixing of mistakes
alignmentCorrect relative positioning

regulation · tweaking · compensation · zeroing · resetting · standardization · optimization · troubleshooting · diagnostics · maintenance

instrumental

strings

Thin flexible lines

pianoKeyed percussion instrument
guitarFretted stringed instrument
fretsWorries or string dividers

bridge · nut · saddle · pegs · soundboard · hammers · keys · pedals · sitar · koto

Opposites

tuning accuracy

mistuningscalibrations

Precision setting procedures

fine-tuning · alignments · synchronizations · optimizations

harmonic quality

mistuningsharmonies

Pleasing combined pitches

consonances · concordance · harmoniousness

harmonic correctness

mistuningsperfect pitch

Identifying tones without reference

harmony · consonance · tunefulness

Family

mistuning

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