How do singers and violin or trombone players adjust pitches beyond the notes of a piano keyboard?

Unlike instruments with fixed pitch, such as the piano, performers like singers, violinists, and trombonists possess the flexibility to adjust their intonation during performance.12

• Violinists: Because string instruments lack frets, players can manipulate the pitch by precisely placing their fingers on the fingerboard to stop the string at different lengths. This allows them to navigate the spaces between the standard notes of the chromatic scale.2
• Trombonists: The trombone utilizes an extendable slide that changes the length of the instrument's tubing. By moving the slide to different positions, the player can alter the fundamental pitch and access the harmonic series of various keys, enabling a continuous range of pitch adjustments.3
• Singers: Vocalists rely on their internal perception and physical control to adjust pitch, allowing them to deviate from the standardized intervals of equal temperament.12

While these musicians can produce microtonal variations, research suggests that when performing together, they often gravitate toward equal temperament or distort intervals based on their training and experience, rather than strictly adhering to just intonation.4