Love music but feel meh about math? The two are intertwined more than you might realize…
When you think of your favorite song, your favorite band, or your dream concert, do you think of math? We’re going to guess probably not. But here’s the thing: there’s actually math behind all of it. That’s because math and music are very closely linked — and honestly, it’s pretty cool when you take the time to think about it.
Let’s take a peek behind the curtain at this historical harmony.
How music and math are related
If you’ve ever played an instrument or sung, you might already have an idea of how much math is actually behind music.
There are some linguistic relations, like “counting” beats and breaking lines of music into “measures,” as well as the names of notes themselves (half notes, quarter notes, eighth notes, etc.). That means there are such deep connections between math and music that they actually share vocabulary!
There are also more intricate structural similarities beneath the surface. For example, if you’ve read or written music before, you may have noticed that music is actually pretty formulaic. The time signature (like ¾ time) dictates how many beats are in a measure and which note equals a single beat; so, we have to use the numerator and denominator of the fraction to get the information we need! In ¾ time, the numerator tells us it’s 3 beats per measure, and the denominator tells us a ¼ note is one beat.
But mathematical influence on music theory doesn’t end there. The way we use patterns to create rhythm and intervals to create harmony, the way different notes indicate different lengths of time, the way the placement of the notes implies different pitches based on the key, the way we figure out the key based on specific symbols… It all sounds a lot like using different variables, equations, and methods to find a mathematical solution, doesn’t it? That’s not coincidence — it’s just the deeply intertwined nature of math and music!
Math and musical instruments
The physical instruments themselves also rely on the forces of math. Take guitars, for instance: Every measurement of a guitar is incredibly precise so that it produces a very specific sound. For example, the length, tension, and diameter of the strings affect the pitch. That’s why musicians use different guitars for different songs, because they all sound different, based on how they’re constructed. Some people even use math to memorize the fretboard!
We won’t even get into guitar pedals, which modify the signal of the guitar before it gets to the speaker, so that the tone is exactly what you want it to be (hello, engineering!).
But the same specificity exists in the construction of any instrument, from pianos to piccolos. In fact, not only is the instrument itself the product of math, but learning to play an instrument can actually help you with math! The dedication, creativity, and formulaic thinking involved in learning an instrument is incredibly similar to the ideal mindset for learning math. Math and music are both a kind of code that needs cracking, and both require patience and perseverance in order to truly learn.
Listening to music while studying
On days when you do need to decode and decipher, have you ever used music to get into the zone?
Just like your favorite anthem can pump you up for practice, music can also help you focus while studying. In fact, Einstein used to listen to music while solving math problems! And if it’s good enough for Einstein, it’s good enough for us.
Lofi and classical are popular genres for concentrating, but your focus music can be whatever works for you! We recommend creating a study playlist with songs you love to help you gear up for a test or work through word problems.
Math and live music
When you get tickets to see your favorite artist, you’re obviously looking forward to hearing their music — but half the fun of seeing a tour is the production itself. The lights, the props, the set pieces all work together to create an immersive, unforgettable experience.
And guess what? It’s. All. Math.
Yep. We don’t mean to get too nerdy, but a great concert is great because all the math is on point.
First of all, math keeps everyone safe: All that heavy equipment in the air like lights and speakers are weighed and hung so that they stay where they should. Those huge screens that create new worlds and vibes for each song are constructed from individual video panels, supported and counterbalanced to keep it at the right angle to prevent a collapse. That means the crew behind the scenes is using math to keep us all safe and sound!
There’s also precise math behind the aesthetic things like the rolling stage fog, the angles of the lighting, and the measurements used to make the band’s costumes. And we can’t forget about the math behind the acoustics of each stadium, which determine how speakers are placed and programmed so that everyone can hear and sing along.
Music is all around us, from our earbuds to our cars to the speakers at the grocery store. It’s a massive influence on our lives and our culture; it can pull us out of a bad mood or help us feel something we didn’t know we needed. Music is a truly moving force — because of every last detail, every artistic microdecision, and every little piece of math that powers it all.
Ready to experience math learning your way? Download Photomath to get started step by step.
