As each row of seeds in a sunflower or each row of scales in a pine cone grows radially away from the center, it tries to grow the maximum number of seeds (or scales) in the smallest space. That is, these phenomena may be an expression of nature's efficiency. The same conditions may also apply to the propagation of seeds or petals in flowers. Given his time frame and growth cycle, Fibonacci's sequence represented the most efficient rate of breeding that the rabbits could have if other conditions were ideal. Why are Fibonacci numbers in plant growth so common? One clue appears in Fibonacci's original ideas about the rate of increase in rabbit populations. The number of rows of the scales in the spirals that radiate upwards in opposite directions from the base in a pine cone are almost always the lower numbers in the Fibonacci sequence-3, 5, and 8. The corkscrew spirals of seeds that radiate outward from the center of a sunflower are most often 34 and 55 rows of seeds in opposite directions, or 55 and 89 rows of seeds in opposite directions, or even 89 and 144 rows of seeds in opposite directions. Similarly, the configurations of seeds in a giant sunflower and the configuration of rigid, spiny scales in pine cones also conform with the Fibonacci series. All of these numbers observed in the flower petals-3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, 55, 89-appear in the Fibonacci series. There are exceptions and variations in these patterns, but they are comparatively few. Some flowers have 3 petals others have 5 petals still others have 8 petals and others have 13, 21, 34, 55, or 89 petals. Find out how here.For example, although there are thousands of kinds of flowers, there are relatively few consistent sets of numbers of petals on flowers. Some people think this is one of the reasons it sounds so good.Īs well as being used to craft violins, the Golden Ratio that comes from the Fibonacci Sequence is also used for saxophone mouthpieces, in speaker wires, and even in the acoustic design of some cathedrals.Įven Lady Gaga has used it in her music. The Golden Ratio can be found throughout the violin by dividing lengths of specific parts of the violin. Stradivari used the Fibonacci Sequence and the Golden Ratio to make his violins. There's a reason a Stradivarius violin would cost you a few million pounds to buy – and its value is partly down to the Fibonacci Sequence and its Golden Ratio. Read more: To save the sound of a Stradivarius, this entire Italian city is keeping quiet Hailed as the master of violin making, Antonio Stradivari has made some of the most beautiful and sonorous violins in existence. The first movement as a whole consists of 100 bars.Ħ2 divided by 38 equals 1.63 (approximately the Golden Ratio)Įxperts claim that Beethoven, Bartók, Debussy, Schubert, Bach and Satie (to name a few) also used this technique to write their sonatas, but no one is exactly sure why it works so well. The exposition consists of 38 bars and the development and recapitulation consists of 62. In the above diagram, C is the sonata's first movement as a whole, B is the development and recapitulation, and A is the exposition. The Golden Ratio in Mozart's Piano Sonata No. Let's take the first movement of Mozart's Piano Sonata No. Mozart arranged his piano sonatas so that the number of bars in the development and recapitulation divided by the number of bars in the exposition would equal approximately 1.618, the Golden Ratio.

Development and recapitulation – where the theme is developed and repeated.

Mozart, for instance, based many of his works on the Golden Ratio – especially his piano sonatas.Įxposition – where the musical theme is introduced The Fibonacci Sequence can be seen on a piano keyboard.Ĭomposers and instrument makers have been using the Fibonacci Sequence and the Golden Ratio for hundreds of years to compose and create music.

Starting to see a pattern? These are all numbers in the Fibonacci Sequence: 3, 5, 8, 13.

In a scale, the dominant note is the fifth note, which is also the eighth note of all 13 notes that make up the octave.A scale is composed of eight notes, of which the third and fifth notes create the foundation of a basic chord.Eight are white keys and five are black keys. An octave on the piano consists of 13 notes.The Fibonacci Sequence plays a big part in Western harmony and musical scales. Leonardo da Vinci's use of the Fibonacci Sequence in 'La Gioconda' (Mona Lisa). If you dont believe me, lets look at the examples of the Fibonacci sequence in nature.

Fibonacci sequence meaning in nature