mirror of
https://github.com/kennethreitz/pytheory.git
synced 2026-06-05 23:00:20 +00:00
kennethreitz
d23de92713
- Circle of fifths: use tone.circle_of_fifths() instead of manual loop - Fingerings: show labeled Fingering class with string names, identify() - Chords: document from_tones(), from_name(), from_intervals(), from_midi_message() - Scales: add Key class, Key.detect(), Key.progression(), nashville() - Playback: simplify examples with Chord.from_name() - README: add Keys section, update fingering output format - Quickstart: add chord identification from fret positions Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.6 (1M context) <noreply@anthropic.com>
80 lines
2.7 KiB
ReStructuredText
80 lines
2.7 KiB
ReStructuredText
Audio Playback
|
|
==============
|
|
|
|
PyTheory can synthesize and play tones and chords through your speakers
|
|
using basic `waveform <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waveform>`_ synthesis.
|
|
|
|
.. note::
|
|
|
|
Audio playback requires `PortAudio <http://www.portaudio.com/>`_ to be
|
|
installed on your system. On macOS: ``brew install portaudio``.
|
|
On Ubuntu: ``apt install libportaudio2``.
|
|
|
|
Playing a Tone
|
|
--------------
|
|
|
|
.. code-block:: python
|
|
|
|
from pytheory import Tone, play
|
|
|
|
a4 = Tone.from_string("A4", system="western")
|
|
play(a4, t=1_000) # Play A440 for 1 second
|
|
|
|
Playing a Chord
|
|
---------------
|
|
|
|
.. code-block:: python
|
|
|
|
from pytheory import Chord, play
|
|
|
|
# From a chord name
|
|
play(Chord.from_name("Am7"), t=2_000)
|
|
|
|
# From note names
|
|
play(Chord.from_tones("C", "E", "G"), t=2_000)
|
|
|
|
Waveform Types
|
|
--------------
|
|
|
|
The waveform shape determines the `timbre <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timbre>`_ (tonal color) of the sound.
|
|
Different waveforms contain different combinations of **harmonics** —
|
|
integer multiples of the fundamental frequency.
|
|
|
|
- `Sine wave <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sine_wave>`_ — the purest tone. Contains only the fundamental
|
|
frequency with no harmonics. Sounds smooth, clear, and "electronic."
|
|
This is the building block of all other waveforms (`Fourier's theorem <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fourier_series>`_).
|
|
|
|
- `Sawtooth wave <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sawtooth_wave>`_ — contains all harmonics (both odd and even),
|
|
each at amplitude 1/n. Sounds bright, buzzy, and aggressive.
|
|
Named for its shape. Used extensively in `additive synthesis <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Additive_synthesis>`_ and analog synthesizers.
|
|
|
|
- `Triangle wave <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triangle_wave>`_ — contains only odd harmonics, each at amplitude
|
|
1/n². Sounds softer and more mellow than sawtooth — somewhere between
|
|
sine and sawtooth. Often described as "woody" or "hollow."
|
|
|
|
.. code-block:: python
|
|
|
|
from pytheory import play, Synth, Tone
|
|
|
|
tone = Tone.from_string("C4", system="western")
|
|
|
|
play(tone, synth=Synth.SINE) # Pure, clean
|
|
play(tone, synth=Synth.SAW) # Bright, buzzy
|
|
play(tone, synth=Synth.TRIANGLE) # Mellow, hollow
|
|
|
|
Temperaments
|
|
------------
|
|
|
|
Hear the difference between tuning systems:
|
|
|
|
.. code-block:: python
|
|
|
|
play(tone, temperament="equal") # Modern standard (since ~1917)
|
|
play(tone, temperament="pythagorean") # Pure fifths, wolf intervals
|
|
play(tone, temperament="meantone") # Pure thirds, Renaissance sound
|
|
|
|
Try playing a C major chord in each temperament — you'll hear subtle
|
|
differences in the "color" of the major third. Equal temperament is
|
|
a compromise; the other systems sacrifice some keys to make the good
|
|
keys sound better.
|