Your obscure reference of the day

25 Sep in geekiness, music

After skimming this page, I've decided that the circle of fifths is the Smith chart of music.

If you're a regular reader on this site and that comparison made sense to you, then your name is probably either Stephen Granade or John Wilson. Let me know if I missed anyone. :)

Comments

Anonymous's picture

Hah, that did make sense to

Hah, that did make sense to me.

Anonymous's picture

Also, I have a fascinating book on

Also, I have a fascinating book on nomography (words I doubt anyone else would have expected to see strung together) that I rescued from the discard pile of Duke's physics library. It's all about creating charts to solve equations, though it never specifically mentions the Smith chart.

Anonymous's picture

I got the reference. Had to do those

I got the reference. Had to do those in microwaves lab.

Anonymous's picture

Cut me a little slack. I definitely got

Cut me a little slack. I definitely got the reference after way too many theory classes in music growing up.

Jeff's picture

First, start with my friends who read

First, start with my friends who read this web site. I mean, half of you have already commented on this post. :)

I know I have plenty of friends that have music theory background (a few with SERIOUS music theory background) who must know what a circle of fifths is (much better than I do).

Then, I figured I have at least a few friends who know what a Smith chart is and what it's used for. That's a small but nonzero number, certainly.

But, it's the overlap that's the kicker. Those circles don't have much intersection.

Then, how many of those people buy into my argument that a Smith chart and a circle of fifths are analogous devices?

I figured I was forgetting some people... but I still say not very many. :)

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