Natural sounds are so rich in interesting frequencies and envelopes that formally trained musicians sometimes seem to ignore in favor of the relatively stable interference patterns produced by instruments. Most of the mathematical analysis of scales and tuning and whatever seems so stiltedly formal at times that I often revert to some sort of primitive impulses regarding what sounds pleasant or interesting. Heck, just tapping on a table top in different places makes different noises, so if I'm going to beat time to the music I usually try to find a couple of spots that "sound" right.

BTW, Peter T. - Good going on the modes thing. ... somewhere down in my old URL's is a site that included comparative scales and modes beyond those in the Greek/European tradition. I'll dredge it up soonest.

~S~