Attention, math geeks: Here’s a musical representation of the Fibonacci Sequence

The Fibonacci sequence is one of the most fascinating stretches of numbers in the universe. If you’re unclear (or maybe you don’t remember your math), this is what we’re talking about.

It’s a series of numbers in which each number is the sum of the two preceding numbers:  1 + 1 = 2; 2+1 = 3; 3 + 2 = 5; 5 +3 = 8; 8 + 5 = 13; 13 + 8 = 21, and so on. The semi-magical properties of this sequence have been know as far back as 200 BCE.

Not only is nature full of physical manifestations of Fibonacci (branching of trees, the formation of chambers of a nautilus shell, and the family tree of honeybees are just a few), it can also be found in music.

For example, the lyrics of Tool’s “Lateralus” follow a Fibonacci pattern.

https://youtu.be/wS7CZIJVxFY

And who said math wasn’t cool?

Now check out what Indian percussionist B.C. Manjunath has done with some percussion. More background can be found here.