Abstract

A formalism is developed for providing a measure of dissonance in a superposition of complex tones. The formalism is based on an extension of the Helmholtz‐Plomp and Levelt model of beating as the cause of dissonance.

For dyads this measure of dissonance gives a good fit to psychological rank orderings of dissonance and its absence (consonance), and to orderings of consonance and dissonance found in Western common practice and pedagogy. A logarithmic scale for the perception of consonance and dissonance is indicated.