On: Why 12 notes in Western music?

[gnulinux]

Is it not true that the shape of the waveform (sinusoidal, saw-like etc) is created by the relative weights of each harmonic? E.g. if you take any random sound wave, Fourier-transform it, you'll find the weight of each harmonic. Or are you saying there is a separate quality to sound waves that can cause their shape to be different even if each harmonic has the same relative weight with respect to the fundamental?

[abstrakraft → gnulinux]

Yes, this quantity is the relative phase of the harmonics, although the human ear is generally considered to be insensitive to phase.

[jacquesm → abstrakraft]

The human ear is insensitive, but the human ears are not. Or, more accurately, the human brain is not.