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Helmholtz–Ellis notation: Difference between revisions

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The '''Helmholtz–Ellis JI pitch notation''' ('''HEJI''') is a [[musical notation]] system for [[just intonation]] intervals up to the [[47-limit]]. It consists of a set of [[Nominal-accidental chain|accidentals]] defined by formal commas for each [[prime harmonic]].
The '''Helmholtz–Ellis JI pitch notation''' ('''HEJI''') is a [[musical notation]] system for [[just intonation]] intervals up to the [[47-limit]]. Based on [[chain-of-fifths notation]] with default staff notation representing [[Pythagorean tuning]], it adds a set of [[nominal-accidental chain|accidentals]] defined by [[formal comma]]s to reach each [[prime harmonic]].


Further accidentals were designed by [[richie]] for primes up to the [[89-limit]]; see [[richie's HEJI extensions]].
Further accidentals were designed by [[richie]] for primes up to the [[89-limit]]; see [[richie's HEJI extensions]].


== Introductory materials ==
== Introductory materials ==
* [https://heji.plainsound.org/ The Helmholtz–Ellis JI Pitch Notation (HEJI)] by Marc Sabat and Thomas Nicholson from Plainsound Music Edition – 2020 version with revised symbols for primes up to 47 entirely based on alterations of Pythagorean notes
* [https://heji.plainsound.org/ The Helmholtz-Ellis JI Pitch Notation (HEJI)] by Marc Sabat and Thomas Nicholson from Plainsound Music Edition – 2020 version with revised symbols for primes up to 47 entirely based on alterations of Pythagorean notes
* [http://www.plainsound.org/pdfs/ji_notation.pdf Extended Helmholtz&ndash;Ellis JI Pitch Notation] by Marc Sabat and Wolfgang von Schweinitz from Plainsound Music Edition &ndash; deprecated<ref>See [https://masa.plainsound.org/work.html#writing Marc Sabat : Music & Writings]. </ref> 2004 version
* [http://www.plainsound.org/pdfs/ji_notation.pdf Extended Helmholtz–Ellis JI Pitch Notation] by Marc Sabat and Wolfgang von Schweinitz from Plainsound Music Edition – deprecated<ref>[https://masa.plainsound.org/work.html#writing Marc Sabat : Music & Writings].</ref> 2004 version


== Quick reference ==
== Quick reference ==
Below is a quick guide to the accidentals and commas used in Helmholtz&ndash;Ellis notation.
Below is a quick guide to the accidentals and commas used in Helmholtz–Ellis notation.
{{Todo|inline=1|text=}}


{| class="wikitable center-all" style="margin: auto auto auto auto;"
{| class="wikitable center-all" style="margin: auto auto auto auto;"
|+ style="font-size: 105%;" |Formal commas
|+ style="font-size: 105%;" | Formal commas
|-
|-
!Prime!!Formal Comma
! Prime !! Formal comma
|-
|-
|[[5-limit|5]]||[[81/80]]
| [[5-limit|5]] || [[81/80]]
|-
|-
|[[7-limit|7]]||[[64/63]]
| [[7-limit|7]] || [[64/63]]
|-
|-
|[[11-limit|11]]||[[33/32]]
| [[11-limit|11]] || [[33/32]]
|-
|-
|[[13-limit|13]]||[[27/26]]
| [[13-limit|13]] || [[27/26]]
|-
|-
|[[17-limit|17]]||[[2187/2176]]
| [[17-limit|17]] || [[2187/2176]]
|-
|-
|[[19-limit|19]]||[[513/512]]
| [[19-limit|19]] || [[513/512]]
|-
|-
|[[23-limit|23]]||[[736/729]]
| [[23-limit|23]] || [[736/729]]
|-
|-
|[[29-limit|29]]||[[261/256]]
| [[29-limit|29]] || [[261/256]]
|-
|-
|[[31-limit|31]]||[[32/31]]
| [[31-limit|31]] || [[32/31]]
|-
|-
|[[37-limit|37]]||[[37/36]]
| [[37-limit|37]] || [[37/36]]
|-
|-
|[[41-limit|41]]||[[82/81]]
| [[41-limit|41]] || [[82/81]]
|-
|-
|[[43-limit|43]]||[[129/128]]
| [[43-limit|43]] || [[129/128]]
|-
|-
|[[47-limit|47]]||[[752/729]]
| [[47-limit|47]] || [[48/47]]<ref group="note" name="v2025">In the recent March 2025 revision of HEJI, the 47 comma was changed from [[752/729]] to [[48/47]], which has yet to gain popular support. See [https://heji.plainsound.org The Helmholtz–Ellis JI Pitch Notation (HEJI)].</ref>
|}<br />
|}


{| class="wikitable sortable center-all left-5" style="margin: auto auto auto auto;"
{| class="wikitable sortable center-all left-6" style="margin: auto auto auto auto;"
|+ style="font-size: 105%;" |Odd harmonics in the harmonic series
|+ style="font-size: 105%;" | Odd harmonics in the harmonic series
|-
|-
! rowspan="2" |Harmonic
! rowspan="2" | Harmonic
! rowspan="2" |Just Ratio
! rowspan="2" | [[Octave reduced]] ratio
! colspan="2" |Notation (assuming 1/1 is C)
! colspan="3" | Notation (assuming 1/1 is C)
! rowspan="2" |Comments
! rowspan="2" | Comments
|-
|-
!2020 version
! New 2020 version<ref group="note" name="v2025"/>
!2004 version
! Old 2020 version
! 2004 version
|-
|-
|1
| 1
|1/1
| 1/1
| colspan="2" |[[File:HejiC.svg|48x48px]]
| colspan="3" | [[File:HejiC.svg|48x48px]]
| rowspan="2" |Default staff notation represents Pythagorean tuning
|  
|-
|-
|3
| 3
|3/2
| 3/2
| colspan="2" |[[File:HejiG.svg|48x48px]]
| colspan="3" | [[File:HejiG.svg|48x48px]]
|
|-
|-
|5
| 5
|5/4
| 5/4
| colspan="2" |[[File:Heji17.svg|54x54px]][[File:HejiE.svg|48x48px]]
| colspan="3" | [[File:Heji17.svg|54x54px]][[File:HejiE.svg|48x48px]]
|
|  
|-
|-
|7
| 7
|7/4
| 7/4
| colspan="2" |[[File:Heji37.svg|54x54px]][[File:Heji11.svg|54x54px]][[File:HejiB.svg|48x48px]]
| colspan="3" | [[File:Heji37.svg|54x54px]][[File:Heji11.svg|54x54px]][[File:HejiB.svg|48x48px]]
|
|  
|-
|-
|9
| 9
|9/8
| 9/8
| colspan="2" |[[File:HejiD.svg|48x48px]]
| colspan="3" | [[File:HejiD.svg|48x48px]]
|Default staff notation represents Pythagorean tuning
| style="text-align: left"; |
|-
|-
|11
| 11
|11/8
| 11/8
| colspan="2" |[[File:Heji41.svg|54x54px]][[File:HejiF.svg|48x48px]]
| colspan="3" | [[File:Heji41.svg|54x54px]][[File:HejiF.svg|48x48px]]
|[[File:Heji41.svg|54x54px]] is ''not'' a half-sharp, as [[File:Heji41.svg|54x54px]][[File:Heji41.svg|54x54px]]F is [[243/242|7.1¢]] flatter than F&#x266F;.
| style="text-align: left"; | [[File:Heji41.svg|54x54px]] is ''not'' a half-sharp, as [[File:Heji41.svg|54x54px]][[File:Heji41.svg|54x54px]]F is [[243/242]] flatter than F♯.
|-
|-
| 13
| 13
|13/8
| 13/8
| colspan="2" |[[File:Heji42.svg|54x54px]][[File:HejiA.svg|48x48px]]
| colspan="3" | [[File:Heji42.svg|54x54px]][[File:HejiA.svg|48x48px]]
|
|  
|-
|-
|15
| 15
|15/8
| 15/8
| colspan="2" |[[File:Heji17.svg|54x54px]][[File:HejiB.svg|48x48px]]
| colspan="3" | [[File:Heji17.svg|54x54px]][[File:HejiB.svg|48x48px]]
|
|  
|-
|-
|17
| 17
|17/16
| 17/16
|[[File:Heji44.svg|54x54px]][[File:Heji25.svg|54x54px]][[File:HejiC.svg|48x48px]]
| colspan="2" | [[File:Heji44.svg|54x54px]][[File:Heji25.svg|54x54px]][[File:HejiC.svg|48x48px]]
|[[File:Heji44.svg|54x54px]][[File:Heji12.svg|54x54px]][[File:HejiD.svg|48x48px]]
| [[File:Heji44.svg|54x54px]][[File:Heji12.svg|54x54px]][[File:HejiD.svg|48x48px]]
|Definition of the accidental is revised from 256/255 to 2187/2176<br />in the 2020 version by Plainsound Music Edition
| style="text-align: left"; | Definition of the accidental is revised from 256/255 to 2187/2176 in the 2020 version by Plainsound Music Edition
|-
|-
|19
| 19
|19/16
| 19/16
| colspan="2" |[[File:Heji47.svg|54x54px]][[File:Heji11.svg|54x54px]][[File:HejiE.svg|48x48px]]
| colspan="3" | [[File:Heji47.svg|54x54px]][[File:Heji11.svg|54x54px]][[File:HejiE.svg|48x48px]]
|
|  
|-
|-
|21
| 21
|21/16
| 21/16
| colspan="2" |[[File:Heji37.svg|54x54px]][[File:HejiF.svg|48x48px]]
| colspan="3" | [[File:Heji37.svg|54x54px]][[File:HejiF.svg|48x48px]]
|
|  
|-
|-
|23
| 23
| 23/16
| 23/16
| colspan="2" |[[File:Heji49.svg|54x54px]][[File:Heji25.svg|48x48px]][[File:HejiF.svg|48x48px]]
| colspan="3" | [[File:Heji49.svg|54x54px]][[File:Heji25.svg|48x48px]][[File:HejiF.svg|48x48px]]
|
|  
|-
|-
|25
| 25
|25/16
| 25/16
| colspan="2" |[[File:Heji23.svg|54x54px]][[File:HejiG.svg|48x48px]]
| colspan="3" | [[File:Heji23.svg|54x54px]][[File:HejiG.svg|48x48px]]
|
|  
|-
|-
| 27
| 27
|27/16
| 27/16
| colspan="2" |[[File:HejiA.svg|48x48px]]
| colspan="3" | [[File:HejiA.svg|48x48px]]
|Default staff notation represents Pythagorean tuning
|  
|-
|-
|29
| 29
|29/16
| 29/16
|[[File:HejiaccidentalCombiningRaise29LimitComma.svg|48x48px]][[File:Heji11.svg|48x48px]][[File:HejiB.svg|48x48px]]
| colspan="2" | [[File:HejiaccidentalCombiningRaise29LimitComma.svg|48x48px]][[File:Heji11.svg|54x54px]][[File:HejiB.svg|48x48px]]
|[[File:Heji51.svg|48x48px]][[File:Heji12.svg|48x48px]][[File:HejiB.svg|48x48px]]
| [[File:Heji51.svg|54x54px]][[File:Heji12.svg|54x54px]][[File:HejiB.svg|48x48px]]
|Definition of the accidental is revised from 145/144 to 261/256<br />in the 2020 version by Plainsound Music Edition
| style="text-align: left"; | Definition of the accidental is revised from 145/144 to 261/256 in the 2020 version by Plainsound Music Edition
|-
|-
|31
| 31
|31/16
| 31/16
|[[File:Heji52.svg|48x48px]][[File:HejiC.svg|48x48px]]
| colspan="2" | [[File:Heji52.svg|54x54px]][[File:HejiC.svg|48x48px]]
|(todo)
| [[File:HejiaccidentalCombiningLower31SchismaOld.svg|48x48px]][[File:Heji40.svg|54x54px]][[File:HejiC.svg|48x48px]]
|Definition of the accidental is revised from 1024/1023 to 32/31<br />in the 2020 version by Plainsound Music Edition
| style="text-align: left"; | Definition of the accidental is revised from 1024/1023 to 32/31 in the 2020 version by Plainsound Music Edition
|-
|-
|33
| 33
|33/32
| 33/32
| colspan="2" |[[File:Heji41.svg|54x54px]][[File:HejiC.svg|48x48px]]
| colspan="3" | [[File:Heji41.svg|54x54px]][[File:HejiC.svg|48x48px]]
|
|  
|-
|-
|35
| 35
|35/32
| 35/32
| colspan="2" |[[File:Heji37.svg|54x54px]][[File:Heji17.svg|54x54px]][[File:HejiD.svg|48x48px]]
| colspan="3" | [[File:Heji37.svg|54x54px]][[File:Heji17.svg|54x54px]][[File:HejiD.svg|48x48px]]
|
|-
|-
|37
| 37
|37/32
| 37/32
|(todo)
| colspan="2" | [[File:HejiaccidentalCombiningRaise37Quartertone.svg|48x48px]][[File:HejiD.svg|48x48px]]
|(todo)
| -
|
|  
|-
|-
|39
| 39
|39/32
| 39/32
| colspan="2" |[[File:Heji42.svg|54x54px]][[File:HejiE.svg|48x48px]]
| colspan="3" | [[File:Heji42.svg|54x54px]][[File:HejiE.svg|48x48px]]
|
|  
|-
|-
|41
| 41
|41/32
| 41/32
|(todo)
| colspan="2" | [[File:HejiaccidentalCombiningRaise41Comma.svg|48x48px]][[File:HejiE.svg|48x48px]]
|(todo)
| -
|
|  
|-
|-
|43
| 43
| 43/32
| 43/32
|(todo)
| colspan="2" | [[File:HejiaccidentalCombiningRaise43Comma.svg|48x48px]][[File:HejiF.svg|48x48px]]
|(todo)
| -
|
|  
|-
|-
|45
| 45
|45/32
| 45/32
| colspan="2" |[[File:Heji24.svg|54x54px]][[File:HejiF.svg|48x48px]]
| colspan="3" | [[File:Heji24.svg|54x54px]][[File:HejiF.svg|48x48px]]
|
|  
|-
|-
| 47
| 47
|47/32
| 47/32
| (todo)
| [[File:HejiLowerByOne47limitSixthtone.png|24x36px]][[File:HejiG.svg|48x48px]]
| (todo)
| [[File:HejiaccidentalCombiningRaise47Quartertone.svg|48x48px]][[File:Heji25.svg|54x54px]][[File:HejiF.svg|48x48px]]
|
| -
| In pre–March-2025 notation, [[File:HejiaccidentalCombiningRaise47Quartertone.svg|36x36px]] represents [[752/729]]; in the update March 2025 of version 2020, [[File:HejiRaiseByOne47limitSixthtone.png|24x36px]] represents [[48/47]].
|}
|}


==Helmholtz&ndash;Ellis glyphs==
== Helmholtz–Ellis glyphs ==
<div style="margin: auto auto auto auto;">
<gallery>
File:Heji1.svg | Double flat lowered by three syntonic commas
File:Heji2.svg | Double flat lowered by two syntonic commas
File:Heji3.svg | Double flat lowered by one syntonic comma
File:Heji4.svg | Double flat
File:Heji5.svg | Double flat raised by one syntonic comma
File:Heji6.svg | Double flat raised by two syntonic commas
File:Heji7.svg | Double flat raised by three syntonic commas
File:Heji8.svg | Flat lowered by three syntonic commas
File:Heji9.svg | Flat lowered by two syntonic commas
File:Heji10.svg | Flat lowered by one syntonic comma
File:Heji11.svg | Flat
File:Heji12.svg | Flat raised by one syntonic comma
File:Heji13.svg | Flat raised by two syntonic commas
File:Heji14.svg | Flat raised by three syntonic commas
File:Heji15.svg | Natural lowered by three syntonic commas
File:Heji16.svg | Natural lowered by two syntonic commas
File:Heji17.svg | Natural lowered by one syntonic comma
File:Heji18.svg | Natural
File:Heji19.svg | Natural raised by one syntonic comma
File:Heji20.svg | Natural raised by two syntonic commas
File:Heji21.svg | Natural raised by three syntonic commas
File:Heji22.svg | Sharp lowered by three syntonic commas
File:Heji23.svg | Sharp lowered by two syntonic commas
File:Heji24.svg | Sharp lowered by one syntonic comma
File:Heji25.svg | Sharp
File:Heji26.svg | Sharp raised by one syntonic comma
File:Heji27.svg | Sharp raised by two syntonic commas
File:Heji28.svg | Sharp raised by three syntonic commas
File:Heji29.svg | Double sharp lowered by three syntonic commas
File:Heji30.svg | Double sharp lowered by two syntonic commas
File:Heji31.svg | Double sharp lowered by one syntonic comma
File:Heji32.svg | Double sharp
File:Heji33.svg | Double sharp raised by one syntonic comma
File:Heji34.svg | Double sharp raised by two syntonic commas
File:Heji35.svg | Double sharp raised by three syntonic commas
File:Heji36.svg | Lower by two septimal commas
File:Heji37.svg | Lower by one septimal comma
File:Heji38.svg | Raise by one septimal comma
File:Heji39.svg | Raise by two septimal commas
File:Heji40.svg | Lower by one undecimal quartertone
File:Heji41.svg | Raise by one undecimal quartertone
File:Heji42.svg | Lower by one tridecimal third tone
File:Heji43.svg | Raise by one tridecimal third tone
File:Heji44.svg | Combining lower by one 17-limit schisma
File:Heji45.svg | Combining raise by one 17-limit schisma
File:Heji46.svg | Combining lower by one 19-limit schisma
File:Heji47.svg | Combining raise by one 19-limit schisma
File:Heji48.svg | Combining lower by one 23-limit comma
File:Heji49.svg | Combining raise by one 23-limit comma
File:Heji accidentalCombiningLower29LimitComma.svg | Combining lower by one 29-limit comma
File:HejiaccidentalCombiningRaise29LimitComma.svg | Combining raise by one 29-limit comma
File:Heji52.svg | Combining lower by one 31-limit quartertone
File:Heji53.svg | Combining raise by one 31-limit quartertone
File:HejiaccidentalCombiningLower37Quartertone.svg | Combining lower by one 37-limit quartertone
File:HejiaccidentalCombiningRaise37Quartertone.svg | Combining raise by one 37-limit quartertone
File:HejiaccidentalCombiningLower41Comma.svg | Combining lower by one 41-limit comma
File:HejiaccidentalCombiningRaise41Comma.svg | Combining raise by one 41-limit comma
File:HejiaccidentalCombiningLower43Comma.svg | Combining lower by one 43-limit comma
File:HejiaccidentalCombiningRaise43Comma.svg | Combining raise by one 43-limit comma
File:HejiRaiseByOne47limitSixthtone.png | Raise by one 47-limit sixthtone (update 03.2025)
File:HejiLowerByOne47limitSixthtone.png | Lower by one 47-limit sixthtone (update 03.2025)
</gallery>
</div>
 
=== Old/deprecated symbols ===
<div style="margin: auto auto auto auto;">
<div style="margin: auto auto auto auto;">
<gallery>
<gallery>
File:Heji1.svg|Double flat lowered by
File:Heji50.svg | Combining lower by one 29-limit schisma (old)
File:Heji2.svg|Double flat lowered by two syntonic commas
File:Heji51.svg | Combining raise by one 29-limit schisma (old)
File:Heji3.svg|Double flat lowered by one syntonic comma
File:HejiaccidentalCombiningLower31SchismaOld.svg | Combining lower by one 31-limit schisma (old)
File:Heji4.svg|Double flat
File:HejiaccidentalCombiningRaise31SchismaOld.svg | Combining raise by one 31-limit schisma (old)
File:Heji5.svg|Double flat raised by one syntonic comma
File:HejiaccidentalCombiningLower47Quartertone.svg | Combining lower by one 47-limit quartertone (old)
File:Heji6.svg|Double flat raised by two syntonic commas
File:HejiaccidentalCombiningRaise47Quartertone.svg | Combining raise by one 47-limit quartertone (old)
File:Heji7.svg|Double flat raised by three syntonic commas
</gallery>
File:Heji8.svg|Flat lowered by three syntonic commas
</div>
File:Heji9.svg|Flat lowered by two syntonic commas
File:Heji10.svg|Flat lowered by one syntonic comma
File:Heji11.svg|Flat
File:Heji12.svg|Flat raised by one syntonic comma
File:Heji13.svg|Flat raised by two syntonic commas
File:Heji14.svg|Flat raised by three syntonic commas
File:Heji15.svg|Natural lowered by three syntonic commas
File:Heji16.svg|Natural lowered by two syntonic commas
File:Heji17.svg|Natural lowered by one syntonic comma
File:Heji18.svg|Natural
File:Heji19.svg|Natural raised by one syntonic comma
File:Heji20.svg|Natural raised by two syntonic commas
File:Heji21.svg|Natural raised by three syntonic commas
File:Heji22.svg|Sharp lowered by three syntonic commas
File:Heji23.svg|Sharp lowered by two syntonic commas
File:Heji24.svg|Sharp lowered by one syntonic comma
File:Heji25.svg|Sharp
File:Heji26.svg|Sharp raised by one syntonic comma
File:Heji27.svg|Sharp raised by two syntonic commas
File:Heji28.svg|Sharp raised by three syntonic commas
File:Heji29.svg|Double sharp lowered by three syntonic commas
File:Heji30.svg|Double sharp lowered by two syntonic commas
File:Heji31.svg|Double sharp lowered by one syntonic comma
File:Heji32.svg|Double sharp
File:Heji33.svg|Double sharp raised by one syntonic comma
File:Heji34.svg|Double sharp raised by two syntonic commas
File:Heji35.svg|Double sharp raised by three syntonic commas
File:Heji36.svg|Lower by two septimal commas
File:Heji37.svg|Lower by one septimal comma
File:Heji38.svg|Raise by one septimal comma
File:Heji39.svg|Raise by two septimal commas
File:Heji40.svg|Lower by one undecimal quartertone
File:Heji41.svg|Raise by one undecimal quartertone
File:Heji42.svg|Lower by one tridecimal third tone
File:Heji43.svg|Raise by one tridecimal third tone
File:Heji44.svg|Combining lower by one 17-limit schisma
File:Heji45.svg|Combining raise by one 17-limit schisma
File:Heji46.svg|Combining lower by one 19-limit schisma
File:Heji47.svg|Combining raise by one 19-limit schisma
File:Heji48.svg|Combining lower by one 23-limit comma
File:Heji49.svg|Combining raise by one 23-limit comma
File:Heji50.svg|Combining lower by one 29-limit schisma (old)
File:Heji51.svg|Combining raise by one 29-limit schisma (old)
File:Heji52.svg|Combining lower by one 31-limit quartertone
File:Heji53.svg|Combining raise by one 31-limit quartertone
File:HejiaccidentalCombiningLower29LimitComma.svg|Combining lower by one 29-limit comma
File:HejiaccidentalCombiningRaise29LimitComma.svg|Combining raise by one 29-limit comma
</gallery></div>


==External links==
== External links ==
*[http://tonalsoft.com/enc/h/hewm.aspx HEWM Notation (Helmholtz-Ellis-Wolf-Monzo)] &ndas
* [http://tonalsoft.com/enc/h/hewm.aspx HEWM Notation (Helmholtz-Ellis-Wolf-Monzo)] – Tonalsoft enyclopedia of microtonal music theory
* [https://hejicalc.plainsound.org/ Plainsound Harmonic Space Calculator]
* [https://w3c.github.io/smufl/latest/tables/extended-helmholtz-ellis-accidentals-just-intonation-supplement.html Glyphs in SMuFL]


==External links==
== See also ==
*[http://tonalsoft.com/enc/h/hewm.aspx HEWM Notation (Helmholtz-Ellis-Wolf-Monzo)] &ndash; Tonalsoft enyclopedia of microtonal music theory
* [[Color notation]]
*[https://hejicalc.plainsound.org/ Plainsound Harmonic Space Calculator]
* [[Functional Just System]] (FJS)
* [[Ben Johnston's notation]]
* [[:Category: SVG]]


==See also==
== Notes ==
*[[Color notation]]
<references group="note"/>
*[[Functional Just System]] (FJS)
*[[Ben Johnston's notation]]
*[[:Category:SVG]]


==Notes==
== References ==
<references />
<references/>


{{Navbox notation}}
{{Navbox notation}}
Retrieved from "https://en.xen.wiki/w/Helmholtz–Ellis_notation"