Powharmonic series: Difference between revisions

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== ''p''-Powharmonic series ==
== ''p''-Powharmonic series ==
A powharmonic series can be built on any number <span><math>p</math></span>, whether it is rational or irrational, positive or negative. The formula for a ''p-powharmonic series'' is simply:
A powharmonic series can be built on any number <span><math>p</math></span>, whether it is rational or irrational, positive or negative. The formula for a '''''p''-powharmonic series''' is simply:


<math>\qquad f(n) = n^p
<math>\qquad f(n) = n^p
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The harmonic series is technically a powharmonic series, but it is the trivial case, with the exponent equal to 1. <span><math>p</math><span> closer to 1 give series closer to the harmonic series, in case a series is desired which is close enough to the harmonic series to evoke it but has some finely alternately tuned characteristics.
The harmonic series is technically a powharmonic series, but it is the trivial case, with the exponent equal to 1. <span><math>p</math><span> closer to 1 give series closer to the harmonic series, in case a series is desired which is close enough to the harmonic series to evoke it but has some finely alternately tuned characteristics.


Multiplying the exponent of a powharmonic series by some constant c is equivalent to multiplying each of its pitches' cents by that constant c. For example, the 1.5-powharmonic series would be like stretching each octave of the harmonic series from 1200¢ to 1800¢. If you were to instead manipulate a harmonic series by adding or subtracting frequency, rather than exponentiating it, you instead get an [[AFS|AFS (arithmetic frequency sequence)]].
Multiplying the exponent of a powharmonic series by some constant c is equivalent to multiplying each of its pitches' cents by that constant ''c''. For example, the 1.5-powharmonic series would be like stretching each octave of the harmonic series from 1200¢ to 1800¢. If you were to instead manipulate a harmonic series by adding or subtracting frequency, rather than exponentiating it, you instead get an [[AFS|AFS (arithmetic frequency sequence)]].


Using a negative power for the exponent gives a similar, but inverted effect. <span><math>f(n) = n^{-1}</math></span> is simply the subharmonic series. Other negative powers give you the subharmonic equivalent of their (super) powharmonic counterpart. You could call these subpowharmonic series.
Using a negative power for the exponent gives a similar, but inverted effect. <span><math>f(n) = n^{-1}</math></span> is simply the subharmonic series. Other negative powers give you the subharmonic equivalent of their (super) powharmonic counterpart. You could call these subpowharmonic series.


== log-base-b-of-a-Powharmonic series ==
== log-base-''b''-of-''a''-Powharmonic series ==
[[File:Log-base-3-of-2-powharmonic series.png|thumb|
[[File:Log-base-3-of-2-powharmonic series.png|thumb|
log-base-3-of-2-powharmonic series
log-base-3-of-2-powharmonic series
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When we choose a <span><math>p</math></span> of the form <span><math>\log_{b}a</math></span>, the resulting scale will include every integer power of <span><math>a</math></span>, and the count of steps between each power of <span><math>a</math></span> will increase by a factor of <span><math>b</math></span>.
When we choose a <span><math>p</math></span> of the form <span><math>\log_{b}a</math></span>, the resulting scale will include every integer power of <span><math>a</math></span>, and the count of steps between each power of <span><math>a</math></span> will increase by a factor of <span><math>b</math></span>.


Extending the naming scheme ''p-powharmonic series'', we call this a ''log-base-b-of-a-powharmonic series''.
Extending the naming scheme '''''p''-powharmonic series''', we call this a '''log-base-''b''-of-''a''-powharmonic series'''.


=== Pitches per period ===
=== Pitches per period ===
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The first period of the series, determined by <span><math>a</math></span>, will contain <span><math>b - 1</math></span> pitches. For example, the log-base-4-of-5-powharmonic series' first 5/1 interval will contain <span><math>4 - 1 = 3</math></span> pitches.
The first period of the series, determined by <span><math>a</math></span>, will contain <span><math>b - 1</math></span> pitches. For example, the log-base-4-of-5-powharmonic series' first 5/1 interval will contain <span><math>4 - 1 = 3</math></span> pitches.


=== Equivalences ==
=== Equivalences ===
The harmonic series features counts of pitches of increasing powers of 2 in each next octave, but it also contains counts of pitches of increasing powers of 3 in each next tritave, and counts of pitches in increasing powers of 5 in each next 5/1 interval, and so forth. This is because the harmonic series is equivalent to the log-base-2-of-2-powharmonic series, the log-base-3-of-3-powharmonic series, the log-base-5-of-5-powharmonic series, and so forth (the log-base-b-of-b-powharmonic series). This because any <span><math>\log_{b}b = 1</math></span>.
The harmonic series features counts of pitches of increasing powers of 2 in each next octave, but it also contains counts of pitches of increasing powers of 3 in each next tritave, and counts of pitches in increasing powers of 5 in each next 5/1 interval, and so forth. This is because the harmonic series is equivalent to the log-base-2-of-2-powharmonic series, the log-base-3-of-3-powharmonic series, the log-base-5-of-5-powharmonic series, and so forth (the log-base-b-of-b-powharmonic series). This because any <span><math>\log_{b}b = 1</math></span>.


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== ''a''-Edharmonic series ==
== ''a''-Edharmonic series ==
=== Prerequisite: ln-of-a-powharmonic series ===
=== Prerequisite: ln-of-''a''-powharmonic series ===
[[File:Ln-of-2-powharmonic series.png|thumb|
[[File:Ln-of-2-powharmonic series.png|thumb|
ln-of-2-powharmonic series
ln-of-2-powharmonic series
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Irrational values can be used as <span><math>a</math></span> or <span><math>b</math></span>.
Irrational values can be used as <span><math>a</math></span> or <span><math>b</math></span>.


In particular it may be of interest to use [[wikipedia:E_(mathematical_constant)|<span><math>e</math></span>]] as <span><math>b</math></span> in other words, to use a [[wikipedia:Natural_logarithm|natural logarithm]].
In particular it may be of interest to use [[wikipedia:E_(mathematical_constant)|<span><math>e</math></span>]] as <span><math>b</math></span>&mdash;in other words, to use a [[wikipedia:Natural_logarithm|natural logarithm]].


For example, the ''ln-of-2-powharmonic series'' fits <span><math>e</math></span> times as many many more pitches into each next octave as the previous octave. Because <span><math>e</math></span> is irrational, however, no integer multiples of the octave will ever be reached.
For example, the ''ln-of-2-powharmonic series'' fits <span><math>e</math></span> times as many many more pitches into each next octave as the previous octave. Because <span><math>e</math></span> is irrational, however, no integer multiples of the octave will ever be reached.
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For example, if we first move by a step of 1ed2 (1200¢), then by 2ed2 (600¢), then 3ed2 (400¢), etc. we will soon find that the deltas between steps of our series are very close to the deltas between steps of the ln-of-2-powharmonic series. We could call this series the 2-edharmonic series.
For example, if we first move by a step of 1ed2 (1200¢), then by 2ed2 (600¢), then 3ed2 (400¢), etc. we will soon find that the deltas between steps of our series are very close to the deltas between steps of the ln-of-2-powharmonic series. We could call this series the 2-edharmonic series.


=== Relation to ln-of-a-powharmonic series ===
=== Relation to ln-of-''a''-powharmonic series ===
The ratio between pitches of the ln-of-2-powharmonic series and the 2-edharmonic series approaches <span><math>2^γ ≈ 1.49196704047</math><span>, where <span><math>γ</math></span> is the [[wikipedia:Euler–Mascheroni_constant|Euler-Mascheroni constant]], <span><math>≈ 0.5772156649</math></span>, which represents the difference between the natural logarithm and the [[wikipedia:Harmonic_series_(mathematics)|mathematical harmonic series]] (as opposed to the musical harmonic series). This is because moving by steps of increasing equal divisions of <span><math>a</math></span> is equivalent to a series of pitches <span><math>2^{H(n)}</math></span> where <span><math>H(n)</math></span> is the <span><math>n^{th}</math></span> [[wikipedia:Harmonic_number|harmonic number]]:
The ratio between pitches of the ln-of-2-powharmonic series and the 2-edharmonic series approaches <span><math>2^γ ≈ 1.49196704047</math><span>, where <span><math>γ</math></span> is the [[wikipedia:Euler–Mascheroni_constant|Euler-Mascheroni constant]], <span><math>≈ 0.5772156649</math></span>, which represents the difference between the natural logarithm and the [[wikipedia:Harmonic_series_(mathematics)|mathematical harmonic series]] (as opposed to the musical harmonic series). This is because moving by steps of increasing equal divisions of <span><math>a</math></span> is equivalent to a series of pitches <span><math>2^{H(n)}</math></span> where <span><math>H(n)</math></span> is the <span><math>n^{th}</math></span> [[wikipedia:Harmonic_number|harmonic number]]:


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{| class="wikitable center-all"
{| class="wikitable center-all"
|+ Comparison of ln-of-2-Powharmonic with 2-Edharmonic series+
|+ style="font-size: 105%;" | Comparison of ln-of-2-Powharmonic with 2-Edharmonic series+
! rowspan="3" | Pitch #
! rowspan="3" | Pitch #
! colspan="5" | ln-of-2-Powharmonic series
! colspan="5" | ln-of-2-Powharmonic series
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|}
|}


In yet other words, the definition of an a-edharmonic series is:
In yet other words, the definition of an ''a''-edharmonic series is:


<math> \qquad f(n) = a^{H(n)}
<math> \qquad f(n) = a^{H(n)}
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=== Naming details ===
=== Naming details ===
We cross-pollinate the abbreviation for "[[wikipedia:Equal_temperament|equal division]]" with affiliation for the pronunciation of "[[wikipedia:Enharmonic|enharmonic]]" to get the name "edharmonic series".  
We cross-pollinate the abbreviation for "[[wikipedia:Equal_temperament|equal division]]" with affiliation for the pronunciation of "[[wikipedia:Enharmonic|enharmonic]]" to get the name "edharmonic series".  


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=== Other examples ===
=== Other examples ===
As another example, the 3-edharmonic series would be moving first by a tritave (1ed3), then by 2ed3, 3ed3, 4ed3, etc.
As another example, the 3-edharmonic series would be moving first by a tritave (1ed3), then by 2ed3, 3ed3, 4ed3, etc.


=== Analogy with matharmonic series ===
=== Analogy with matharmonic series ===
Edharmonic series are to powharmonic series as the matharmonic series is to the [[Logharmonic series|logharmonic series]].
Edharmonic series are to powharmonic series as the matharmonic series is to the [[Logharmonic series|logharmonic series]].


=== Emulatory edharmonic series ===
=== Emulatory edharmonic series ===
The 0<sup>th</sup> harmonic number is not defined, however, if it were, it seems reasonable to assume it would be defined as 0; in other words, the first step of the harmonic series would be to add <span><math>\frac11</math></span> to 0.
The 0<sup>th</sup> harmonic number is not defined, however, if it were, it seems reasonable to assume it would be defined as 0; in other words, the first step of the harmonic series would be to add <span><math>\frac11</math></span> to 0.


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{| class="wikitable center-all"
{| class="wikitable center-all"
|+ Comparison of harmonic series and emulatory edharmonic series
|+ style="font-size: 105%;" | Comparison of harmonic series and emulatory edharmonic series
! rowspan="3" | Pitch #
! rowspan="3" | Pitch #
! colspan="4" | Harmonic series
! colspan="4" | Harmonic series
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== See also ==
== See also ==
[[Harmonotonic tunings]]: powharmonic series are non-[[Arithmetic tunings|arithmetic]] harmonotonic tunings.
[[Harmonotonic tunings]]: powharmonic series are non-[[Arithmetic tunings|arithmetic]] harmonotonic tunings.