Did you know, there’s math in music? Sure, musicians aren’t necessarily solving equations when they’re playing, but there’s a surprisingly large amount of mathematics that can be found in how music works.
We can apply mathematical concepts to music, either to analyze it, describe it, or even to create it. When mathematicians and scientists study music, they look at patterns, symmetry, and group theory. They represent musical information or structures in mathematical terms, rather than using standard musical notation.
From Pythagoras to current mathematicians, people have been studying the relationships between mathematics and music for centuries. Pythagoras observed how musical notes could be translated into mathematical equations, which formed the basis of harmony as we know it today.
Modern music software and digital audio workstations rely heavily on mathematical algorithms to create and process sound. The next time you’re enjoying your favorite song, remember there’s a bit of math behind those pleasing sounds!
