The better an arrangement agrees in pitch, the more easily its parts blend

Lax tuning is not just a musical issue: the more the pitching of an arrangement agrees with itself, the more easily everything sounds as if it belongs together, and a track that is out of tune with the others sticks out and is hard to balance even when not glaringly flat. This is why producers tune drums to the key of the track — matching the kit’s strong overtones lets it be faded up further before it struggles to blend.

Examples

A slightly sharp guitar refuses to sit no matter the fader; tuning it to the arrangement lets it blend, and tuning a kit’s overtones to the key lets the drums sit louder.

Assessment

Explain why tuning affects how well tracks blend and balance, beyond simple musical correctness.