> Said that, when playing two octaves together vs other intervals it's easy for a layman to notice how in tune and how consonant they are, because of beating.
I think the point was that this beating depends on the timbre of the instruments (e.g., the fact that overtones are integer multiples of the fundamental). For many percussion instruments this is not the case. You can actually shape a collection of bells so that octaves sound very dissonant (lots of beating) while a slightly different interval sounds consonant.
I think the point was that this beating depends on the timbre of the instruments (e.g., the fact that overtones are integer multiples of the fundamental). For many percussion instruments this is not the case. You can actually shape a collection of bells so that octaves sound very dissonant (lots of beating) while a slightly different interval sounds consonant.