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{{Wikipedia|Bohlen–Pierce scale}}
{{Wikipedia}}
[[File:vaisvil-BP-guitar-052-crop.jpg|thumb|x00px|Chris Vaisvil's BP electric guitar. [http://chrisvaisvil.com/the-bohlen-pierce-epiphone-roadie-guitar/ Music from this guitar.]]]
[[File:vaisvil-BP-guitar-052-crop.jpg|thumb|x00px|Chris Vaisvil's BP electric guitar. [http://chrisvaisvil.com/the-bohlen-pierce-epiphone-roadie-guitar/ Music from this guitar.]]]
[[File:Sword_BP_guitars.jpg|thumb|300px]]
[[File:Sword_BP_guitars.jpg|thumb|300px]]


The '''Bohlen-Pierce''' ('''BP''') scale is a 13-tone [[macrotonal]] [[nonoctave]] [[scale]] designed to emphasize odd-number intervals and chords, such as the 3:5:7:9 tetrad. It was first described as a 7-limit [[just intonation]] scale and as an [[equal-step tuning|equal temperament]], [[13edt|13 equal divisions of the tritave]]. The [[tritave]] (3/1) usually replaces the [[octave]] in the role of the [[equave]], such that intervals a tritave apart are considered [[Equivalence|equivalent]].
The '''Bohlen–Pierce scale''' ('''BP''') is a 13-tone [[macrotonal]] [[nonoctave]] [[scale]] designed to emphasize odd-number intervals and chords, such as the 3:5:7:9 tetrad. It was first described as a 7-limit [[just intonation]] scale and as an [[equal-step tuning|equal temperament]], [[13edt|13 equal divisions of the tritave]]. The [[tritave]] (3/1) usually replaces the [[octave]] in the role of the [[equave]], such that intervals a tritave apart are considered [[equivalent]].


It is closely related to the rank two temperament [[Sensamagic clan #Bohpier|bohpier]]. It is normally thought of (if not in these terms, then in fact) as a temperament defined on the 3.5.7 [[Just intonation subgroup|subgroup]]. However, it can be extended to the 3.5.7.11/4 subgroup, especially when considering 13edt instead of the JI version. This extension is controversial because of the presence of 2 in the denominator of 11/4, but the interval is present in the sense that 3^(12\13) provides an approximation to it. Chords of Bohlen-Pierce, from this extended perspective, may be found listed on the page [[chords of bohpier]].  
It is closely related to the rank two temperament [[Sensamagic clan #Bohpier|bohpier]]. It is normally thought of (if not in these terms, then in fact) as a temperament defined on the 3.5.7 [[Just intonation subgroup|subgroup]]. However, it can be extended to the 3.5.7.11/4 subgroup, especially when considering 13edt instead of the JI version. This extension is controversial because of the presence of 2 in the denominator of 11/4, but the interval is present in the sense that 3^(12\13) provides an approximation to it. Chords of Bohlen–Pierce, from this extended perspective, may be found listed on the page [[chords of bohpier]].  


Bohlen-Pierce was discovered independently by [[Heinz Bohlen]], [[John Pierce]], [[Kees van Prooijen]], and perhaps others, usually noticed for its good approximation of odd-number just ratios 3:5, 5:7, 3:7, etc.; but not necessarily 4:11, 5:6, 6:7, etc.
Bohlen–Pierce was discovered independently by [[Heinz Bohlen]], [[John Pierce]], [[Kees van Prooijen]], and perhaps others, usually noticed for its good approximation of odd-number just ratios 3:5, 5:7, 3:7, etc.; but not necessarily 4:11, 5:6, 6:7, etc.


== Theory ==
== Theory ==
* [[Relationship between Bohlen-Pierce and octave-ful temperaments]]
* [[Relationship between Bohlen–Pierce and octave-ful temperaments]]
 
=== Lambda scale ===
{{Main|4L 5s (3/1-equivalent)}}


== Intervals ==
== Intervals ==
Line 20: Line 23:


== Variations ==
== Variations ==
=== Lambda scale ===
=== Triple Bohlen–Pierce ===
{{Main|4L 5s (tritave-equivalent)}}
Proposed by [[Paul Erlich]] is [[39edt]], also known as the ''Triple Bohlen–Pierce scale''. It adds to 13edt accurate approximations to the 11th and 13th harmonics ([[11/9]] and [[13/9]]) and can be used in a variety of ways, for both just intonation chords and harmonies, as standard Bohlen–Pierce scale interlocking three times with calm-sounding quarter-tones, and for various JI modulations.
 
=== Triple Bohlen-Pierce ===
Proposed by [[Paul Erlich]], is the [[Triple BP|Triple Bohlen-Pierce Scale]], or 39th root of 3. It approximates additional odd harmonics and can be used in a variety of ways, for both just intonation chords and harmonies, as standard Bohlen-Pierce scale interlocking three times with calm sounding quarter-tones, and for various JI modulations.


== Regular temperament properties ==
== Regular temperament properties ==
{| class="wikitable center-4 center-5 center-6"
{{Main| 13edt#Regular temperament properties }}
! rowspan="2" | Subgroup
! rowspan="2" | [[Comma list]]
! rowspan="2" | [[Mapping]]
! rowspan="2" | Optimal<br>Equave stretch (¢)
! colspan="2" | Tuning error
|-
! [[TE error|Absolute]] (¢)
! [[TE simple badness|Relative]] (%)
|-
| 3.5.7
| 245/243, 3125/3087
| [{{val| 13 19 23 }}] (b13)
| +1.393
| 1.150
| 0.79
|}
 
=== Rank-2 temperaments ===
{| class="wikitable center-all right-3 left-5"
|+Table of rank-2 temperaments by generator
! Periods<br>per tritave
! Generator<br>(reduced)
! Cents<br>(reduced)
! Associated<br>ratio
! Temperament
|-
| 1
| 1\13
| 146.30
| 49/45
| [[Procyon]]
|-
| 1
| 2\13
| 292.61
| 25/21
| [[Sirius]]
|-
| 1
| 3\13
| 438.91
| 9/7
| [[BPS]]
|-
| 1
| 4\13
| 585.22
| 7/5
| [[Canopus]]
|-
|1
|5\13
|731.63
|75/49
|
|-
| 1
| 6\13
| 877.83
| 5/3
| [[Arcturus]]
|}
 
== Publications ==
* [https://ronsword.bigcartel.com/product/creative-applications-for-polyscales-and-scale-sequences ''Bohlen Pierce Scales for Guitar''] by [[Ron Sword]], IAAA Press, UK-USA. First Ed: May 2009.


== Instruments ==
== Instruments ==
* [http://www.huygens-fokker.org/bpsite/instruments.html#anchor39641 Bohlen Pierce guitar]
* [http://www.huygens-fokker.org/bpsite/instruments.html#anchor39641 Bohlen Pierce guitar]
* [[Microtonal clarinet #BPClarinets|Clarinets]]
* [[Clarinet#Bohlen-Pierce clarinets|Clarinets]]
* Metallophone
* Metallophone
* Electronic Organ
* Electronic Organ
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== Music ==
== Music ==
{{See also|:Category:Bohlen-Pierce tracks}}
{{Main| Bohlen–Pierce scale/Music }}
* [https://soundcloud.com/overtoneshock/a-mean-little-voice-bohlen-pierce-or-13ed3 A Mean Little Voice] by Stephen Weigel
{{Catrel|Bohlen-Pierce tracks}}
* [http://chrisvaisvil.com/ask-for-it-over-the-ridge/ Ask For It] by [[Chris Vaisvil]]
* Links to available music written in BP at [http://www.huygens-fokker.org/bpsite/references2.html#anchor81501 above website].
* [http://www.seraph.it/XenoTunes4_files/Bohl-en%20Roll.mp3 Bohl-en Roll] by [[Carlo Serafini]] ([http://www.seraph.it/blog_files/004e4fe53f09c06fd5e709a08d53d0d5-4.html blog entry])
* [http://www.jeanpierrepoulin.com/mp3/BPguitares.mp3 Bohlen-Pierce electric guitar improvisation] by [[Jean-Pierre Poulin]]
* [http://www.ronsword.com/sounds/BP_stretched_chroma.mp3 Bohlen-Pierce "Stretched Chroma" Acoustic Improvisation] by [[Ron Sword]]
* [http://www.kunstmusik.com/mp3/reminiscences.mp3 Reminiscences] by [http://www.kunstmusik.com/2010/03/08/reminiscences/ Steven Yi]
* [http://www.jeanpierrepoulin.com/mp3/Roll%27n%27Peace.mp3 Roll'n'Peace] by [[Jean-Pierre Poulin]]
* [http://micro.soonlabel.com/gene_ward_smith/Others/Winchester/01%20-%201.%20Bohlen-Pierce.mp3 Comets Over Flatland 1] by [[Randy Winchester]]
* [http://micro.soonlabel.com/gene_ward_smith/Others/Winchester/02%20-%202.%20Bohlen-Pierce.mp3 Comets Over Flatland 2] by [[Randy Winchester]]
* [http://micro.soonlabel.com/gene_ward_smith/Others/Winchester/03%20-%203.%20Bohlen-Pierce.mp3 Comets Over Flatland 3] by [[Randy Winchester]]
* [http://micro.soonlabel.com/gene_ward_smith/Others/Winchester/04%20-%204.%20Bohlen-Pierce.mp3 Comets Over Flatland 4] by [[Randy Winchester]]
* [http://micro.soonlabel.com/bohlen-pierce/daily20110915_BP_strings-Bohlen-Pierce-Island.mp3 Bohlen-Pierce Island audio] by [[Chris Vaisvil]]
* [http://micro.soonlabel.com/bohlen-pierce/mesonic_atom_13th_root_of_3_BP_apx_X1.mp3 Mesonic Atom] by [[Chris Vaisvil]]
* [http://micro.soonlabel.com/MOTU/Vaisvil-MOTU-8a-bending-the-rules-in-bohlen-pierce.mp3 Bending the Rules] by [[Chris Vaisvil]]
* [http://micro.soonlabel.com/gene_ward_smith/Others/Hansen/Bohlen-Pierce%20Canon.mp3 Bohlen-Pierce Canon] by [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sd1b9Lh8iFA Kjell Hansen].
* [http://chrisvaisvil.com/bohlens-pierced-waltz/ Bohlen's Pierced Waltz] by [[Chris Vaisvil]]
* [http://chrisvaisvil.com/the-complex-plane-bp-guitar/ The Complex Plane] by [[Chris Vaisvil]]
* [https://www.freewebs.com/ralphjarzombek/120420.mp3 120420] by Ralph Jarzombek


== See also ==
== See also ==
* [[Catalog of 3.5.7 subgroup rank two temperaments]]
* [[Catalog of 3.5.7 subgroup rank two temperaments]]
* [[No-twos 31-limit]]
* [[Lumatone mapping for Bohlen–Pierce]]
 
== Further reading ==
* [[Sword, Ron]]. [https://ronsword.bigcartel.com/product/creative-applications-for-polyscales-and-scale-sequences ''Bohlen-Pierce Scales for Guitar: Includes Paul Erlich's Triple BP Scales. Notation methods, Chord-Scales, Melody Chords, Polyscales, and new Scales for the Bohlen-Pierce tuning'']. 2009. ([http://www.metatonalmusic.com/books.html Metatonal Music link])


== External links ==
== External links ==
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* [http://ziaspace.com/_academic/BP/ Bohlen-Pierce Scale Research] by [[Elaine Walker]]
* [http://ziaspace.com/_academic/BP/ Bohlen-Pierce Scale Research] by [[Elaine Walker]]


[[Category:Bohlen-Pierce| ]] <!-- main article -->
[[Category:Bohlen–Pierce| ]] <!-- main article -->
[[Category:13-tone scales]]
[[Category:13-tone scales]]
[[Category:Edonoi]]
[[Category:Edt]]
[[Category:Guitar]]
[[Category:Guitar]]
[[Category:Listen]]
[[Category:Macrotonal]]
[[Category:Macrotonal]]

Latest revision as of 15:43, 31 July 2025

English Wikipedia has an article on:
Chris Vaisvil's BP electric guitar. Music from this guitar.

The Bohlen–Pierce scale (BP) is a 13-tone macrotonal nonoctave scale designed to emphasize odd-number intervals and chords, such as the 3:5:7:9 tetrad. It was first described as a 7-limit just intonation scale and as an equal temperament, 13 equal divisions of the tritave. The tritave (3/1) usually replaces the octave in the role of the equave, such that intervals a tritave apart are considered equivalent.

It is closely related to the rank two temperament bohpier. It is normally thought of (if not in these terms, then in fact) as a temperament defined on the 3.5.7 subgroup. However, it can be extended to the 3.5.7.11/4 subgroup, especially when considering 13edt instead of the JI version. This extension is controversial because of the presence of 2 in the denominator of 11/4, but the interval is present in the sense that 3^(12\13) provides an approximation to it. Chords of Bohlen–Pierce, from this extended perspective, may be found listed on the page chords of bohpier.

Bohlen–Pierce was discovered independently by Heinz Bohlen, John Pierce, Kees van Prooijen, and perhaps others, usually noticed for its good approximation of odd-number just ratios 3:5, 5:7, 3:7, etc.; but not necessarily 4:11, 5:6, 6:7, etc.

Theory

Lambda scale

Intervals

Variations

Triple Bohlen–Pierce

Proposed by Paul Erlich is 39edt, also known as the Triple Bohlen–Pierce scale. It adds to 13edt accurate approximations to the 11th and 13th harmonics (11/9 and 13/9) and can be used in a variety of ways, for both just intonation chords and harmonies, as standard Bohlen–Pierce scale interlocking three times with calm-sounding quarter-tones, and for various JI modulations.

Regular temperament properties

Instruments

Music

See also: Category:Bohlen-Pierce tracks

See also

Further reading

External links