Alternative symbols for ups and downs notation: Difference between revisions

 

This article discusses about an alternative set of symbols based on current practice of microtonal music with some experimental extrapolation. The notation is, in essence, [[Ups and downs notation|ups and downs notation]] with a different look.  

The symbol set comprises traditional accidentals (sharps, flats, and naturals), Stein–Zimmermann quartertone accidentals (semisharps and semiflats) with and up and down arrows via Gould arrow quarter tone symbols or [[Helmholtz–Ellis notation|Helmholtz–Ellis just intonation accidentals]].   

The Stein–Zimmermann quartertone accidentals modify the note by half the sharpness value. They apply to [[edo]]s of even sharpness value only.   

The Gould arrow accidentals are up and down arrows attached to sharps, flats, or naturals, and modify the note by one step. They appear very similar to Helmholtz–Ellis accidentals, and are fully interchangeable with them.

{{See also| Sharpness }}

A usage guide for edos of sharpness value below 8 will be provided here.  

Sharp-1 edos have a sharp that raises 1 step. Edos of this category are {{EDOs| 5, 12, 19, 26, and 33 }}.

Sharp-2 edos have a sharp that raises 2 steps. Edos of this category are {{EDOs| 10, 17, 24, 31, 38, 45, and 52 }}.

Sharp-3 edos have a sharp that raises 3 steps. Edos of this category are {{EDOs| 8, 15, 22, 29, 36, 43, 50, 57, and 64 }}.

{{Sharpness-sharp3}}

{{Sharpness-sharp3-extended}}

Sharp-4 edos have a sharp that raises 4 steps. Edos of this category are {{EDOs| 13, 20, 27, 34, 41, 48, 55, 62, 69, and 76 }}.

Many consider a full combination of semisharps, semiflats, ups and down to appear very neat.  

Sharp-5 edos have a sharp that raises 5 steps. Edos of this category are {{EDOs| 18, 25, 32, 39, 46, 53, 60, 67, 74, 81, and 88 }}.

{{Sharpness-sharp5-extended}}

Sharp-6 edos have a sharp that raises 6 steps. Edos of this category are {{EDOs| 30, 37, 44, 51, 58, 65, 72, 79, 86, 93, and 100 }}.

{{Sharpness-sharp6-qt}}

Sharp-7 edos have a sharp that raises 7 steps. Edos of this category are {{EDOs| 42, 49, 56, 63, 70, 77, 84, 91, 98, and 105 }}.  

Sharp-8 edos have a sharp that raises 8 steps. Edos of this category are {{EDOs| 54, 61, 68, 75, 82, 89, 96, 103, 110, and 117 }}.

Provided with more stacks of arrows, or the ability to attach arrows to demi- and sesqui-sharps and flats, edos of higher sharpness value can be notated in the same method as above.

Sharp-14 edos have a sharp that raises 14 steps.

For edos such as {{EDOs| 9, 16, 23, and 30 }}, if you notate them as if their native antidiatonic scales were diatonic, you would find that the sharp actually ''lowers'' by one step. If one wishes to "translate" diatonic songs into these edos, this is useful.  

Flat-2 edos (virtually [[11edo]] only), if you pretend their native antidiatonic scales are diatonic, have a sharp that ''lowers'' 2 steps. So besides the special flavor of the sharps and flats, there are also semisharps and semiflats to fill up the spaces between. It makes the most sense to notate them as subsets.

On the other hand, the lower five multiples of 7 ({{EDOs| 7, 14, 21, 28, and 35}}) are known as "perfect" or sharp-0 edos, since, by tempering out the Pythagorean apotome of [[2187/2048]], the traditional sharps and flats are redundant and cannot raise or lower the pitch. Here, the notes can only be modified by arrows.

Some edos have odd-numbered sharpness values 9 and above, and are difficult to notate due to the lack of support for the stacks of arrows required. Edos below 72 known to be impractical for this reason are {{EDOs| 59 and 66 }}. Therefore, such edos are capped from their full strength.   

 

[[Category:Ups and downs notation]]