Sagittal notation - Revision history

Dave Keenan at 03:48, 2 June 2026

2026-06-02T03:48:08Z

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	[[file:sagittal_sample.gif]]		[[file:sagittal_sample.gif]]

	'''Sagittal notation''' is a [[musical notation]] system capable of notating almost any conceivable tuning while preserving, as much as possible, the notation of harmonies across different tunings. It uses arrow-like symbols made up of four simple components whose visual size is proportional to their alteration. It was developed by [[Dave Keenan]] and [[George Secor]] with significant contributions from numerous others.		'''Sagittal notation''' is a [[musical notation]] system capable of notating almost any conceivable tuning while preserving, as much as possible, the notation of harmonies across different tunings. It uses arrow-like symbols made up of four simple components whose visual size is proportional to their alteration and whose alterations sum. It was developed by [[Dave Keenan]] and [[George Secor]] with significant contributions from numerous others.

	== Flavors of Sagittal notation ==		== Flavors of Sagittal notation ==

Dave Keenan at 03:46, 2 June 2026

2026-06-02T03:46:03Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 03:46, 2 June 2026
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	[[file:sagittal_sample.gif]]		[[file:sagittal_sample.gif]]

	'''Sagittal notation''' is a [[musical notation]] system capable of notating almost any conceivable tuning while preserving, as much as possible, the notation of harmonies across different tunings~~, using~~ arrow-like symbols made up of four simple components whose visual size is proportional to their alteration. It was developed by [[Dave Keenan]] and [[George Secor]] with significant contributions from numerous others.		'''Sagittal notation''' is a [[musical notation]] system capable of notating almost any conceivable tuning while preserving, as much as possible, the notation of harmonies across different tunings. It uses arrow-like symbols made up of four simple components whose visual size is proportional to their alteration. It was developed by [[Dave Keenan]] and [[George Secor]] with significant contributions from numerous others.

	== Flavors of Sagittal notation ==		== Flavors of Sagittal notation ==

Dave Keenan: Added some distinguishing features of Sagittal to the first paragraph.

2026-06-02T03:45:01Z

Added some distinguishing features of Sagittal to the first paragraph.

← Older revision		Revision as of 03:45, 2 June 2026
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	[[file:sagittal_sample.gif]]		[[file:sagittal_sample.gif]]

	'''Sagittal notation''' is a [[musical notation]] system capable of notating almost any conceivable tuning. It was developed by [[Dave Keenan]] and [[George Secor]] with significant contributions from numerous others.		'''Sagittal notation''' is a [[musical notation]] system capable of notating almost any conceivable tuning while preserving, as much as possible, the notation of harmonies across different tunings, using arrow-like symbols made up of four simple components whose visual size is proportional to their alteration. It was developed by [[Dave Keenan]] and [[George Secor]] with significant contributions from numerous others.

	== Flavors of Sagittal notation ==		== Flavors of Sagittal notation ==

Dave Keenan: /* Evo */ Deleted supposed exception with its details that are too specific and complex for an introductory example, while making it clear that this case was already covered in the preceding paragraph.

2026-06-02T03:33:18Z

Evo: Deleted supposed exception with its details that are too specific and complex for an introductory example, while making it clear that this case was already covered in the preceding paragraph.

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	The '''Evo''' flavor (short for "evolutionary", previously called "mixed") uses only single-shaft Sagittal symbols, e.g. {{sagittal\| /\| }} {{sagittal\| \! }} {{sagittal\| \|) }} {{sagittal\| !) }}, alone or in combination with conventional sharps and flats and their doubles. Only the large variant of the double sharp {{sagittal\| x }} (U+E47D) is considered to be stylistically-compatible with Sagittal symbols. Evo is much easier to learn, but it results in a greater number of symbols on the sheet, which can give it a more cluttered appearance, particularly with chords, and it may be confusing when two symbols alter the same note in opposite directions.		The '''Evo''' flavor (short for "evolutionary", previously called "mixed") uses only single-shaft Sagittal symbols, e.g. {{sagittal\| /\| }} {{sagittal\| \! }} {{sagittal\| \|) }} {{sagittal\| !) }}, alone or in combination with conventional sharps and flats and their doubles. Only the large variant of the double sharp {{sagittal\| x }} (U+E47D) is considered to be stylistically-compatible with Sagittal symbols. Evo is much easier to learn, but it results in a greater number of symbols on the sheet, which can give it a more cluttered appearance, particularly with chords, and it may be confusing when two symbols alter the same note in opposite directions.

	A sub-flavor of Evo is '''Evo-SZ''' (Evo with Stein–Zimmermann). This is where any sagittals that are notating exactly half the alteration of a sharp or flat (most often {{sagittal\| /\|\ }} {{sagittal\| \!/ }}) are replaced by the Stein–Zimmermann semisharp {{sagittal\| > }} and narrow reversed flat {{sagittal\| < }}, and the corresponding combinations (most often {{sagittal\| /\|\ }}{{sagittal\| # }} and {{sagittal\| \!/ }}{{sagittal\| b }}) are replaced by {{sagittal\| ># }} and {{sagittal\| <b }}. The narrow variants of the fractional flats {{sagittal\| < }} (U+E284) and {{sagittal\| <b }} (U+E285) are preferred because they preserve the Sagittal principle that the visual size of a symbol should indicate the relative size of its alteration and they reduce left-right confusion.		A sub-flavor of Evo is '''Evo-SZ''' (Evo with Stein–Zimmermann). This is where, in tempered systems, any sagittals that are notating exactly half the alteration of a sharp or flat (most often {{sagittal\| /\|\ }} {{sagittal\| \!/ }}) are replaced by the Stein–Zimmermann semisharp {{sagittal\| > }} and narrow reversed flat {{sagittal\| < }}, and the corresponding combinations (most often {{sagittal\| /\|\ }}{{sagittal\| # }} and {{sagittal\| \!/ }}{{sagittal\| b }}) are replaced by {{sagittal\| ># }} and {{sagittal\| <b }}. The narrow variants of the fractional flats {{sagittal\| < }} (U+E284) and {{sagittal\| <b }} (U+E285) are preferred because they preserve the Sagittal principle that the visual size of a symbol should indicate the relative size of its alteration and they reduce left-right confusion.

	In tempered systems, Evo-SZ {{sagittal\|>}} {{sagittal\|<}} {{sagittal\|>#}} {{sagittal\|<b}} accidentals ''may instead'' be distinct from Sagittals like {{sagittal\| /\|\ }}{{sagittal\| \!/ }}, when the apotome can be split in two equal parts as in [[Hemipyth\|Hemipythagorean]] as literal half-sharps and half-flats, with a distinction between mapped neutral thirds like [[11/9\|~11/9]] or ~[[16/13]] and [[Sqrt(3/2)\|hemififths]] which might be mapped to another interval like [[49/40]] in particularly fine-grained EDOs like [[270edo\|270]] or [[311edo\|311]]. There is no need for this in coarser EDOs like [[24edo\|24]], [[31edo\|31]] or [[41edo\|41]], where in this case the [[243/242\|rastma]] is tempered out, and thus the mappings of the irrational hemififth and [[11/9]] coincide.

	=== Revo ===		=== Revo ===

Dave Keenan: /* Revo */ Restored some examples of apotome complements and pointed out differences.

2026-04-26T05:17:17Z

Revo: Restored some examples of apotome complements and pointed out differences.

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	=== Revo ===		=== Revo ===
	The '''Revo''' flavor (short for "revolutionary", previously called "pure") only requires one accidental per note. Revo therefore takes up less space on the sheet and presents a cleaner appearance, and it clearly indicates the direction of the overall alteration. It discards the conventional sharps and flats and their doubles and replaces them with these multi-shaft arrow-like symbols: {{sagittal\| /\|\|\ }} {{sagittal\| \!!/ }} {{sagittal\| /X\ }} {{sagittal\| \Y/ }}. Adding a sharp or flat to a Sagittal is achieved by adding two more shafts, e.g. {{sagittal\| /\| }}{{sagittal\| # }} becomes {{sagittal\| /\|\|\| }} and {{sagittal\| !) }}{{sagittal\| b }} becomes {{sagittal\| !!!) }}, as expected. [[2187/2048#Notation\|''Apotome'']] ''complements'', that arise when the Sagital accidental alters in the opposite direction to the apotome, do not have a simple rule in Revo. One must simply memorize the complements one needs, as shown below.		The '''Revo''' flavor (short for "revolutionary", previously called "pure") only requires one accidental per note. Revo therefore takes up less space on the sheet and presents a cleaner appearance, and it clearly indicates the direction of the overall alteration. It discards the conventional sharps and flats and their doubles and replaces them with these multi-shaft arrow-like symbols: {{sagittal\| /\|\|\ }} {{sagittal\| \!!/ }} {{sagittal\| /X\ }} {{sagittal\| \Y/ }}. Adding a sharp or flat to a Sagittal is achieved by adding two more shafts, e.g. {{sagittal\| /\| }}{{sagittal\| # }} becomes {{sagittal\| /\|\|\| }} and {{sagittal\| !) }}{{sagittal\| b }} becomes {{sagittal\| !!!) }}, as expected. [[2187/2048#Notation\|''Apotome'']] ''complements'', that arise when the Sagital accidental alters in the opposite direction to the apotome, do not have a simple rule in Revo. One must simply memorize the complements one needs, as shown below. For example, {{sagittal\| \! }}{{sagittal\| # }} becomes {{sagittal\| \|\|\ }} (flag swaps sides) while {{sagittal\| !) }}{{sagittal\| # }} becomes {{sagittal\| \|\|) }} (flag stays on same side).

	{\| class="wikitable"		{\| class="wikitable"

Dave Keenan: /* Revo */

2026-04-26T05:09:12Z

Revo

← Older revision		Revision as of 05:09, 26 April 2026
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	=== Revo ===		=== Revo ===
	The '''Revo''' flavor (short for "revolutionary", previously called "pure") only requires one accidental per note. Revo therefore takes up less space on the sheet and presents a cleaner appearance, and it clearly indicates the direction of the overall alteration. It discards the conventional sharps and flats and their doubles and replaces them with these multi-shaft arrow-like symbols: {{sagittal\| /\|\|\ }} {{sagittal\| \!!/ }} {{sagittal\| /X\ }} {{sagittal\| \Y/ }}. Adding a sharp or flat to a Sagittal is achieved by adding two more shafts, e.g. {{sagittal\| /\| }}{{sagittal\| # }} becomes {{sagittal\| /\|\|\| }} and {{sagittal\| !) }}{{sagittal\| b }} becomes {{sagittal\| !!!) }}, as expected. [[2187/2048#Notation\|''Apotome'']] ''complements'', that arise when the Sagital accidental alters in the opposite direction to the apotome, do not have a simple rule in Revo. One must simply memorize ~~any~~ complements one needs, as shown below.		The '''Revo''' flavor (short for "revolutionary", previously called "pure") only requires one accidental per note. Revo therefore takes up less space on the sheet and presents a cleaner appearance, and it clearly indicates the direction of the overall alteration. It discards the conventional sharps and flats and their doubles and replaces them with these multi-shaft arrow-like symbols: {{sagittal\| /\|\|\ }} {{sagittal\| \!!/ }} {{sagittal\| /X\ }} {{sagittal\| \Y/ }}. Adding a sharp or flat to a Sagittal is achieved by adding two more shafts, e.g. {{sagittal\| /\| }}{{sagittal\| # }} becomes {{sagittal\| /\|\|\| }} and {{sagittal\| !) }}{{sagittal\| b }} becomes {{sagittal\| !!!) }}, as expected. [[2187/2048#Notation\|''Apotome'']] ''complements'', that arise when the Sagital accidental alters in the opposite direction to the apotome, do not have a simple rule in Revo. One must simply memorize the complements one needs, as shown below.

	{\| class="wikitable"		{\| class="wikitable"

Dave Keenan: /* Revo */ Added a table of the most common apotome complements. Collapsed the complete table.

2026-04-26T05:08:35Z

Revo: Added a table of the most common apotome complements. Collapsed the complete table.

@@ Line 15: / Line 15: @@
 === Revo ===
-The '''Revo''' flavor (short for "revolutionary", previously called "pure") only requires one accidental per note. Revo therefore takes up less space on the sheet and presents a cleaner appearance, and it clearly indicates the direction of the overall alteration. It discards the conventional sharps and flats and their doubles and replaces them with these multi-shaft arrow-like symbols: {{sagittal| /||\ }} {{sagittal| \!!/ }} {{sagittal| /X\ }} {{sagittal| \Y/ }}. Adding a sharp or flat to a Sagittal is achieved by adding two more shafts, e.g. {{sagittal| /| }}{{sagittal| # }} becomes {{sagittal| /||| }} and {{sagittal| !) }}{{sagittal| b }} becomes {{sagittal| !!!) }}, as expected. [[2187/2048#Notation|''Apotome'']] ''complements'', that arise when the Sagital accidental alters in the opposite direction to the apotome, are not predictable. {{sagittal| \! }}{{sagittal| # }} becomes {{sagittal| ||\ }},  {{sagittal| |) }}{{sagittal| b }} becomes {{sagittal| !!) }}, {{sagittal| \!/ }}{{sagittal| # }} becomes {{sagittal|(|) }}, {{sagittal| \!)}}{{sagittal| # }} becomes {{sagittal|(|\}} ; one must learn these ''apotome complements'' by rote memorization.
+The '''Revo''' flavor (short for "revolutionary", previously called "pure") only requires one accidental per note. Revo therefore takes up less space on the sheet and presents a cleaner appearance, and it clearly indicates the direction of the overall alteration. It discards the conventional sharps and flats and their doubles and replaces them with these multi-shaft arrow-like symbols: {{sagittal| /||\ }} {{sagittal| \!!/ }} {{sagittal| /X\ }} {{sagittal| \Y/ }}. Adding a sharp or flat to a Sagittal is achieved by adding two more shafts, e.g. {{sagittal| /| }}{{sagittal| # }} becomes {{sagittal| /||| }} and {{sagittal| !) }}{{sagittal| b }} becomes {{sagittal| !!!) }}, as expected. [[2187/2048#Notation|''Apotome'']] ''complements'', that arise when the Sagital accidental alters in the opposite direction to the apotome, do not have a simple rule in Revo. One must simply memorize any complements one needs, as shown below.
 {| class="wikitable"
-|+Table of apotome complements<ref>https://sagittal.org/sagittal.pdf p. 24 Figure 13</ref>
+|+Table of Spartan (most common) <br> apotome complements<ref>https://sagittal.org/sagittal.pdf p. 7 Figure 4</ref>
 |Symbol
 |<big>{{sagittal|h}}</big>
@@ Line 75: / Line 97: @@
 |<big>{{sagittal||\)}}</big>
 |}
 == Notation software support ==

Dave Keenan: /* External links */ Added "(with an introductory video)"

2026-04-26T04:12:45Z

External links: Added "(with an introductory video)"

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	== External links ==		== External links ==
	* [http://sagittal.org/ Official site]		* [http://sagittal.org/ Official site] (with an introductory video)
	* [http://forum.sagittal.org Sagittal Forum]		* [http://forum.sagittal.org Sagittal Forum]
	* [http://sagittal.org/sagittal.pdf The original Xenharmonikon article (updated)]		* [http://sagittal.org/sagittal.pdf The original Xenharmonikon article (updated)]

Dave Keenan: Moved the prime approximations section out from between the discussion of symbol sets and the gallery of symbol sets and placed it at the end of the article as primes beyond 13 are an advanced topic.

2026-04-25T06:55:18Z

Moved the prime approximations section out from between the discussion of symbol sets and the gallery of symbol sets and placed it at the end of the article as primes beyond 13 are an advanced topic.

@@ Line 158: / Line 158: @@
 It adds the ''tina'' accent to the Olympian symbol set, able to be stacked up to thrice with any of the symbols (three tinas make a ~mina), allowing for a whopping maximum resolution of 809EDA. The strict zeta peak [[8539edo]] has been used to define the tina as an interval measure, due its insanely precise 27-odd-limit (and beyond) interval palette. When used for JI, it defines the ''Standard Insane Precision JI'' capable of writing in the 127-limit with astonishing precision. There is no level of precision higher than this, and it is unlikely that one will ever exist. Unless you want some hot sauce.<ref name=":0">https://forum.sagittal.org/viewtopic.php?p=2714&hilit=bomb#p2714  "A tina is approximately 1/809th of an apotome, 1/8539th of an octave (a [[Zeta peak edo|zeta-peak EDO]]), or 0.14 cents. The fractional-tina is generally half a tina but is intentionally arbitrary, because if you need any more precision than that, I have a bottle of Da' Bomb Beyond Insanity Hot Sauce with your name on it"</ref>
 </div>
 == Gallery of symbols ==
@@ Line 462: / Line 418: @@
 The average unit interval is called a "tina" (rhymes with ballerina) and is approximately 0.14 of a cent. The new shapes are called "horn" and "wedge". Notice how 3 tinas is ''approximately'' equal to one mina, so the system just equates the 3. Either way, this is an ''insane'' level of pitch precision. The "i/o" accent, whose shape is called "dot", represents some unit fraction of a tina, often a half as shown, but it is intentionally left to be defined by the user.<ref name=":0" />
 </div>
 == See also ==

Dave Keenan: /* Sharps/Flats */ Added "(excluding subsets)"

2026-04-25T06:50:04Z

Sharps/Flats: Added "(excluding subsets)"

← Older revision		Revision as of 06:50, 25 April 2026
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	Using {{sagittal\| # }} and {{sagittal\| b }} (or {{sagittal\|/\|\|\}} {{sagittal\|\!!/}} for Revo flavor) is still ''technically'' Sagittal notation, however, it's just a reskin of the usual chain-of-fifths notation. Ditto for Stein-Zimmermann half-sharps and half-flats in [[hemipythagorean]].		Using {{sagittal\| # }} and {{sagittal\| b }} (or {{sagittal\|/\|\|\}} {{sagittal\|\!!/}} for Revo flavor) is still ''technically'' Sagittal notation, however, it's just a reskin of the usual chain-of-fifths notation. Ditto for Stein-Zimmermann half-sharps and half-flats in [[hemipythagorean]].

	[[File:SagittalEulerDiagram1.png\|500px\|thumb\|right\|Relationships between sagittal symbol subsets]]		[[File:SagittalEulerDiagram1.png\|500px\|thumb\|right\|Relationships between sagittal symbol subsets (excluding accents)]]

	=== Spartan ===		=== Spartan ===