I am not a specialist in the Eastern music but I use sometimes the 1/4 of tones. What I can say is that the interval is not modified between 2 notes even if one detune a note inside this interval.
For example: the interval between A and C:
A to Bbemol: 1/2 tone Bbemol to B: 1/2 tone B to C: 1/2 tone
The total is 1,5 tone
If you detune the B to B-1/4, then:
A to Bbemol: 1/2 tone Bbemol to B-1/4: 1/4 tone B-1/4 to C: 3/4 tone
The total is still 1,5 tone
In oriental keyboards, this feature is used to play solos with the upper part. This feature is not applied to the accompagnement tracks. Thus in the example referred to above, if you plays a G with your left hand, the sound will be G, B, D in the accompagnement even if the B is detuned for the right hand. This discord is typical in the eastern music and is indispensable for those who play this kind of music.
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