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Intervals: some note names in table; more notation is later
 
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<h2>IMPORTED REVISION FROM WIKISPACES</h2>
{{interwiki
This is an imported revision from Wikispaces. The revision metadata is included below for reference:<br>
| de = 21-EDO
: This revision was by author [[User:igliashon|igliashon]] and made on <tt>2011-07-24 15:17:36 UTC</tt>.<br>
| en = 21edo
: The original revision id was <tt>242633061</tt>.<br>
| es =
: The revision comment was: <tt></tt><br>
| ja = 21平均律
The revision contents are below, presented both in the original Wikispaces Wikitext format, and in HTML exactly as Wikispaces rendered it.<br>
}}
<h4>Original Wikitext content:</h4>
{{Infobox ET}}
<div style="width:100%; max-height:400pt; overflow:auto; background-color:#f8f9fa; border: 1px solid #eaecf0; padding:0em"><pre style="margin:0px;border:none;background:none;word-wrap:break-word;white-space: pre-wrap ! important" class="old-revision-html">=21 equal divisions of the octave=
{{ED intro}}


Twenty one equal divisions of the octave provides the sonic fingerprint of the augmented and 7-edo family, while also giving a some higher harmony possibilities and fun intervals like the apotome. The system can be treated as three intertwining 7-edo or "equi-heptatonic" scales, or as seven 3-edo ''augmented'' triads. Some other cool things about 21-edo: it has an 11-limit minor third/wide sixth, 7-limit neutral third and sixth, a 7/4 harmonic seventh and grave seventh. The 7/4 at 968.826 cents is only off in 21-tone by 2.6 cents.
== Theory ==
21edo contains three [[7edo]] "equiheptatonic" scales, and can be interpreted as 7edo but with the capability to inflect up or down by a quarter-tone. The 7edo subset functions as an equalized "[[5L 2s|diatonic]]" scale, though non-mos options might also be preferable (such as [[omnidiatonic]]). In other words, all intervals have "minor", "neutral", and "major" variations, which makes building scales in 21edo rather interesting. If 21edo is analyzed purely diatonically, no chromatic alterations can exist because the [[chromatic semitone]] is equal to 0 cents (a fact characteristic of [[whitewood]] temperaments). So, another pair of accidentals (such as ups and downs) is usually used instead, though they might be "reskinned" as sharps and flats to aid melodic intuition.  


Twenty-one has a period of 1/3 of the octave and boasts a neat scale dubbed "Whitewood".
21edo supports {{w|tertian harmony}} with 7edo's flat fifth, containing both 7edo's neutral chords and inflected major and minor chords. The [[5/4]] major third is mapped to 400{{c}}, identical to 12edo's, but the minor third is more extreme in 21edo due to the flatness of the fifth (closer to subminor), so that the chords might be more comparable to [[neogothic]] chords. In fact, [[6/5]] is slightly closer to the 6-step neutral third than the 5-step minor third, meaning 21edo lacks [[consistency]] to the [[5-odd-limit]].


|| Degree || Cents
In terms of interval regions, 21edo possesses four types of 2nds (subminor, minor, submajor, and supermajor), three types of 3rds (subminor, neutral, and major), a "third-fourth/naiadic" (an interval that can function as either a supermajor 3rd or a narrow 4th), a wide (or acute) 4th, and a narrow tritone, as well as the octave-inversions of all of these intervals.
Value || Name ||= Approximate
Ratios* ||
|| 0 || 0 || C ||= 1/1 ||
|| 1 || 57.143 || C^/Dvv ||= 28/27, 30/29 ||
|| 2 || 114.286 || C^^/Dv ||= 16/15, 15/14, 29/27 ||
|| 3 || 171.429 || D ||= 10/9, 32/29 ||
|| 4 || 228.571 || D^/Evv ||= 8/7 ||
|| 5 || 285.714 || D^^/Ev ||= 27/23, 32/27 ||
|| 6 || 342.857 || E ||= 28/23 ||
|| 7 || 400 || E^/Fvv ||= 29/23 ||
|| 8 || 457.143 || E^^/Fv ||= 30/23 ||
|| 9 || 514.286 || F ||= 161/120, 256/189 ||
|| 10 || 571.429 || F^/Gvv ||= 32/23 ||
|| 11 || 628.571 || F^^/Gv ||= 23/16 ||
|| 12 || 685.714 || G ||= 189/128, 240/161 ||
|| 13 || 742.857 || G^/Avv ||= 23/15 ||
|| 14 || 800 || G^^/Av ||= 46/29 ||
|| 15 || 857.143 || A ||= 23/14 ||
|| 16 || 914.286 || A^/Bvv ||= 27/16, 46/27 ||
|| 17 || 971.429 || A^^/Bv ||= 7/4 ||
|| 18 || 1028.571 || B ||= 29/16, 9/5 ||
|| 19 || 1085.714 || B^/Cvv ||= 15/8 ||
|| 20 || 1142.857 || B^^/Cv ||= 27/14, 29/15 ||
|| 21 || 1200 || C ||= 2/1 ||


*based on treating 21-EDO as a 2.7.15.23.27.29 subgroup temperament; other approaches are possible.
Because 21edo is a {{W|Fibonacci sequence|Fibonacci}} edo, it contains an approximation to the [[logarithmic phi]] superfifth, which generates golden MOS scales [[3L 2s]], [[5L 3s]], and [[8L 5s]], with 21edo itself being an equalized version of [[13L 8s]].


**21-tone scales:**
Thanks to its sevenths, 21edo is an ideal tuning for its size for [[metallic harmony]].
[[augment6]]
[[augment9]]
[[augment12]]


=== Odd harmonics ===
{{Harmonics in equal|21|columns=11}}
{{Harmonics in equal|21|columns=11|start=12|collapsed=1|title=Approximation of odd harmonics in 21edo (continued)}}


== Intervals ==
Note names are given with 7edo as the naturals and arrows (written as ^ and v) for inflections up/down by one edostep. Inconsistent intervals are in ''italics''.


==Commas==
{| class="wikitable center-1 right-2 right-3"
21 EDO tempers out the following commas. (Note: This assumes the val &lt; 21 33 49 59 73 78 |.)
|-
||~ Comma ||~ Monzo ||~ Value (Cents) ||~ Name 1 ||~ Name 2 ||
! #
||= 2187/2048 ||&lt; | -11 7 &gt; ||&gt; 113.69 ||= Apotome ||=  ||
! Name
||= 128/125 ||&lt; | 7 0 -3 &gt; ||&gt; 41.06 ||= Diesis ||= Augmented Comma ||
! Cents
||= 9931568/9752117 ||&lt; | -25 7 6 &gt; ||&gt; 31.57 ||= Ampersand's Comma ||  ||
! Approximate Ratios*
||= 9193891/9143623 ||&lt; | 32 -7 -9 &gt; ||&gt; 9.49 ||= Escapade Comma ||  ||
|-
||= 1029/1000 ||&lt; | -3 1 -3 3 &gt; ||&gt; 49.49 ||= Keega ||=  ||
| 0
||= 36/35 ||&lt; | 2 2 -1 -1 &gt; ||&gt; 48.77 ||= Septimal Quarter Tone ||  ||
| C
||= 9859966/9733137 ||&lt; | -10 7 8 -7 &gt; ||&gt; 22.41 ||= Blackjackisma ||=  ||
| 0.00
||= 1029/1024 ||&lt; | -10 1 0 3 &gt; ||&gt; 8.43 ||= Gamelisma ||=  ||
| [[1/1]]
||= 225/224 ||&lt; | -5 2 2 -1 &gt; ||&gt; 7.71 ||= Septimal Kleisma ||= Marvel Comma ||
|-
||= 16875/16807 ||&lt; | 0 3 4 -5 &gt; ||&gt; 6.99 ||= Mirkwai ||=  ||
| 1
||= 2401/2400 ||&lt; | -5 -1 -2 4 &gt; ||&gt; 0.72 ||= Breedsma ||=  ||
| ^C
||= 394839/394762 ||&lt; | 47 -7 -7 -7 &gt; ||&gt; 0.34 ||= Akjaysma ||= 5\7 Octave Comma ||
| 57.14
||= 99/98 ||&lt; | -1 2 0 -2 1 &gt; ||&gt; 17.58 ||= Mothwellsma ||=  ||
| [[21/20]]
||= 176/175 ||&lt; | 4 0 -2 -1 1 &gt; ||&gt; 9.86 ||= Valinorsma ||||
|-
||= 4000/3993 ||&lt; | 5 -1 3 0 -3 &gt; ||&gt; 3.03 ||= Wizardharry ||=  ||
| 2
| vD
| 114.29
| [[14/13]], [[15/14]], [[16/15]]
|-
| 3
| D
| 171.43
| ''[[9/8]]'', ''[[13/12]]'', [[35/32]]
|-
| 4
| ^D
| 228.57
| [[8/7]], ''[[10/9]]''
|-
| 5
| vE
| 285.71
|''[[6/5]]'', [[7/6]]
|-
| 6
| E
| 342.86
| [[39/32]], [[128/105]], [[16/13]]
|-
| 7
| ^E
| 400.00
| [[5/4]], ''[[9/7]]''
|-
| 8
| vF
| 457.14
| [[13/10]], [[21/16]]
|-
| 9
| F
| 514.29
| [[4/3]]
|-
| 10
| ^F
| 571.43
| [[7/5]]
|-
| 11
| vG
| 628.57
| [[10/7]]
|-
| 12
| G
| 685.71
| [[3/2]]
|-
| 13
| ^G
| 742.86
| [[20/13]], [[32/21]]
|-
| 14
| vA
| 800.00
| [[8/5]], ''[[14/9]]''
|-
| 15
| A
| 857.14
| [[64/39]], [[105/64]], [[13/8]]
|-
| 16
| ^A
| 914.29
|''[[5/3]]'', [[12/7]]
|-
| 17
| vB
| 971.43
| [[7/4]], ''[[9/5]]''
|-
| 18
| B
| 1028.57
| ''[[16/9]]'', ''[[24/13]]'', [[64/35]]
|-
| 19
| ^B
| 1085.71
| [[13/7]], [[28/15]], [[15/8]]
|-
| 20
| vC
| 1142.86
| [[40/21]]
|-
| 21
| C
| 1200.00
| [[2/1]]
|}
<nowiki/>*As a [[2.3.5.7.13 subgroup|2.3.5.7.13-subgroup]] temperament


== Notation ==
The following table gives a comparison of some notation systems for 21edo.
{| class="wikitable center-all right-3 right-5"
|-
! [[Degree]]
! [[Cent]]s
! colspan="3" | [[Ups and downs notation]]
! [[5L 3s]] octatonic<br>notation
! [[Extended-diatonic interval names|Extended-diatonic <br> interval name]]
|+
|-
| 0
| 0.00
| 1
| unison
| C
| C
| Unison
|-
| 1
| 57.14
| ^1  vv2
| up unison, <br> dud 2nd
| ^C <br> vvD
| C#
| Subminor 2nd
|-
| 2
| 114.29
| ^^1 <br> v2
| dup unison, <br> down 2nd
| ^^C <br> vD
| Db
| Minor 2nd
|-
| 3
| 171.43
| 2
| 2nd
| D
| D
| Submajor 2nd
|-
| 4
| 228.57
| ^2 <br> vv3
| up 2nd, <br> dud 3rd
| ^D <br> vvE
| D#
| Supermajor 2nd
|-
| 5
| 285.71
| ^^2 <br> v3
| dup 2nd, <br> down 3rd
| ^^D <br> vE
| Eb
| Subminor 3rd
|-
| 6
| 342.86
| 3
| 3rd
| E
| E
| Neutral 3rd
|-
| 7
| 400.00
| ^3 <br> vv4
| up 3rd, <br> dud 4th
| ^E <br> vvF
| E#/Fb
| Major 3rd
|-
| 8
| 457.14
| ^^3 <br> v4
| dup 3rd, <br> down 4th
| ^^E <br> vF
| F
| Third-fourth ([[naiadic]])
|-
| 9
| 514.29
| 4
| 4th
| F
| F#
| Acute 4th
|-
| 10
| 571.43
| ^4 <br> vv5
| up 4th, <br> dud 5th
| ^F <br> vvG
| Gb
| Narrow tritone
|-
| 11
| 628.57
| ^^4 <br> v5
| dup 4th, <br> down 5th
| ^^F <br> vG
| G
| Wide tritone
|-
| 12
| 685.71
| 5
| 5th
| G
| G#
| Grave 5th
|-
| 13
| 742.86
| ^5 <br> vv6
| up 5th, <br> dud 6th
| ^G <br> vvA
| Hb
| Fifth-sixth ([[cocytic]])
|-
| 14
| 800.00
| ^^5 <br> v6
| dup 5th, <br> down 6th
| ^^G <br> vA
| H
| Minor 6th
|-
| 15
| 857.14
| 6
| 6th
| A
| H#/Ab
| Neutral 6th
|-
| 16
| 914.29
| ^6 <br> vv7
| up 6th, <br> dud 7th
| ^A <br> vvB
| A
| Supermajor 6th
|-
| 17
| 971.43
| ^^6 <br> v7
| dup 6th, <br> down 7th
| ^^A <br> vB
| A#
| Subminor 7th
|-
| 18
| 1028.57
| 7
| 7th
| B
| Bb
| Supraminor 7th
|-
| 19
| 1085.71
| ^7 <br> vv8
| up 7th, <br> dud 8ve
| ^B <br> vvC
| B
| Major 7th
|-
| 20
| 1142.86
| ^^7 <br> v8
| dup 7th, <br> down 8ve
| ^^B <br> vC
| B#/Cb
| Supermajor 7th
|-
| 21
| 1200.00
| 8
| 8ve
| C
| C
| Octave
|}


=== Sagittal notation ===
This notation uses the same sagittal sequence as [[16edo#Sagittal notation|16-EDO]], is a subset of the notation for [[42edo#Second-best fifth notation|42b]], and is a superset of the notation for [[7edo#Sagittal notation|7-EDO]].


=**Books / Literature:**=
{{Sagittal chart|}}
Sword, Ron. "Icosihenaphonic Scales for Guitar". IAAA Press. 1st ed: July 2009.
[[image:http://www.ronsword.com/images/ron1.jpg width="254" height="188"]][[image:http://www.swordguitars.com/21tetsm.JPG width="363" height="191"]]
**//21-edo Icosihenaphonic Acoustic Guitar (Ron Sword)//**


=**Compositions/Listening:**=  
== Chords ==
[[@http://www.ronsword.com/sounds/21_improv.mp3|Short Clip of 21-edo Acoustic]] by [[Ron Sword]]
=== Chord names ===
[[@http://www.ronsword.com/sounds/Ron_Sword_21_Tone_improv.mp3|Open tuning Drone Improvisation in 21-edo]] by Ron Sword
Ups and downs can be used to name 21edo chords. Because every interval is perfect, the quality can be omitted, and the words major, minor, augmented and diminished are never used. Alterations are always enclosed in parentheses, additions never are. An up or down immediately after the chord root affects the 3rd, 6th, 7th, and/or the 11th (every other note of a stacked-3rds chord 6-1-3-5-7-9-11-13).  
[[http://www.soundclick.com/bands/page_songInfo.cfm?bandID=122613&amp;songID=933715|Anomalous Readings]] [[http://clones.soonlabel.com/public/micro/gene_ward_smith/Others/Heathwaite/andrewheathwaite+anomalousreadingsin21tet.mp3|play]] by [[Andrew Heathwaite]]</pre></div>
<h4>Original HTML content:</h4>
<div style="width:100%; max-height:400pt; overflow:auto; background-color:#f8f9fa; border: 1px solid #eaecf0; padding:0em"><pre style="margin:0px;border:none;background:none;word-wrap:break-word;width:200%;white-space: pre-wrap ! important" class="old-revision-html">&lt;html&gt;&lt;head&gt;&lt;title&gt;21edo&lt;/title&gt;&lt;/head&gt;&lt;body&gt;&lt;!-- ws:start:WikiTextHeadingRule:0:&amp;lt;h1&amp;gt; --&gt;&lt;h1 id="toc0"&gt;&lt;a name="x21 equal divisions of the octave"&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;!-- ws:end:WikiTextHeadingRule:0 --&gt;21 equal divisions of the octave&lt;/h1&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Twenty one equal divisions of the octave provides the sonic fingerprint of the augmented and 7-edo family, while also giving a some higher harmony possibilities and fun intervals like the apotome. The system can be treated as three intertwining 7-edo or &amp;quot;equi-heptatonic&amp;quot; scales, or as seven 3-edo ''augmented'' triads. Some other cool things about 21-edo: it has an 11-limit minor third/wide sixth, 7-limit neutral third and sixth, a 7/4 harmonic seventh and grave seventh. The 7/4 at 968.826 cents is only off in 21-tone by 2.6 cents.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Twenty-one has a period of 1/3 of the octave and boasts a neat scale dubbed &amp;quot;Whitewood&amp;quot;.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;


0-6-12 = C E G = C = C or C perfect


&lt;table class="wiki_table"&gt;
0-5-12 = C vE G = Cv = C down
    &lt;tr&gt;
        &lt;td&gt;Degree&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/td&gt;
        &lt;td&gt;Cents&lt;br /&gt;
Value&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/td&gt;
        &lt;td&gt;Name&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/td&gt;
        &lt;td style="text-align: center;"&gt;Approximate&lt;br /&gt;
Ratios*&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/td&gt;
    &lt;/tr&gt;
    &lt;tr&gt;
        &lt;td&gt;0&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/td&gt;
        &lt;td&gt;0&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/td&gt;
        &lt;td&gt;C&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/td&gt;
        &lt;td style="text-align: center;"&gt;1/1&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/td&gt;
    &lt;/tr&gt;
    &lt;tr&gt;
        &lt;td&gt;1&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/td&gt;
        &lt;td&gt;57.143&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/td&gt;
        &lt;td&gt;C^/Dvv&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/td&gt;
        &lt;td style="text-align: center;"&gt;28/27, 30/29&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/td&gt;
    &lt;/tr&gt;
    &lt;tr&gt;
        &lt;td&gt;2&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/td&gt;
        &lt;td&gt;114.286&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/td&gt;
        &lt;td&gt;C^^/Dv&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/td&gt;
        &lt;td style="text-align: center;"&gt;16/15, 15/14, 29/27&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/td&gt;
    &lt;/tr&gt;
    &lt;tr&gt;
        &lt;td&gt;3&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/td&gt;
        &lt;td&gt;171.429&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/td&gt;
        &lt;td&gt;D&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/td&gt;
        &lt;td style="text-align: center;"&gt;10/9, 32/29&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/td&gt;
    &lt;/tr&gt;
    &lt;tr&gt;
        &lt;td&gt;4&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/td&gt;
        &lt;td&gt;228.571&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/td&gt;
        &lt;td&gt;D^/Evv&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/td&gt;
        &lt;td style="text-align: center;"&gt;8/7&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/td&gt;
    &lt;/tr&gt;
    &lt;tr&gt;
        &lt;td&gt;5&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/td&gt;
        &lt;td&gt;285.714&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/td&gt;
        &lt;td&gt;D^^/Ev&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/td&gt;
        &lt;td style="text-align: center;"&gt;27/23, 32/27&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/td&gt;
    &lt;/tr&gt;
    &lt;tr&gt;
        &lt;td&gt;6&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/td&gt;
        &lt;td&gt;342.857&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/td&gt;
        &lt;td&gt;E&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/td&gt;
        &lt;td style="text-align: center;"&gt;28/23&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/td&gt;
    &lt;/tr&gt;
    &lt;tr&gt;
        &lt;td&gt;7&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/td&gt;
        &lt;td&gt;400&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/td&gt;
        &lt;td&gt;E^/Fvv&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/td&gt;
        &lt;td style="text-align: center;"&gt;29/23&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/td&gt;
    &lt;/tr&gt;
    &lt;tr&gt;
        &lt;td&gt;8&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/td&gt;
        &lt;td&gt;457.143&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/td&gt;
        &lt;td&gt;E^^/Fv&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/td&gt;
        &lt;td style="text-align: center;"&gt;30/23&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/td&gt;
    &lt;/tr&gt;
    &lt;tr&gt;
        &lt;td&gt;9&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/td&gt;
        &lt;td&gt;514.286&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/td&gt;
        &lt;td&gt;F&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/td&gt;
        &lt;td style="text-align: center;"&gt;161/120, 256/189&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/td&gt;
    &lt;/tr&gt;
    &lt;tr&gt;
        &lt;td&gt;10&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/td&gt;
        &lt;td&gt;571.429&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/td&gt;
        &lt;td&gt;F^/Gvv&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/td&gt;
        &lt;td style="text-align: center;"&gt;32/23&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/td&gt;
    &lt;/tr&gt;
    &lt;tr&gt;
        &lt;td&gt;11&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/td&gt;
        &lt;td&gt;628.571&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/td&gt;
        &lt;td&gt;F^^/Gv&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/td&gt;
        &lt;td style="text-align: center;"&gt;23/16&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/td&gt;
    &lt;/tr&gt;
    &lt;tr&gt;
        &lt;td&gt;12&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/td&gt;
        &lt;td&gt;685.714&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/td&gt;
        &lt;td&gt;G&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/td&gt;
        &lt;td style="text-align: center;"&gt;189/128, 240/161&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/td&gt;
    &lt;/tr&gt;
    &lt;tr&gt;
        &lt;td&gt;13&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/td&gt;
        &lt;td&gt;742.857&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/td&gt;
        &lt;td&gt;G^/Avv&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/td&gt;
        &lt;td style="text-align: center;"&gt;23/15&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/td&gt;
    &lt;/tr&gt;
    &lt;tr&gt;
        &lt;td&gt;14&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/td&gt;
        &lt;td&gt;800&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/td&gt;
        &lt;td&gt;G^^/Av&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/td&gt;
        &lt;td style="text-align: center;"&gt;46/29&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/td&gt;
    &lt;/tr&gt;
    &lt;tr&gt;
        &lt;td&gt;15&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/td&gt;
        &lt;td&gt;857.143&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/td&gt;
        &lt;td&gt;A&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/td&gt;
        &lt;td style="text-align: center;"&gt;23/14&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/td&gt;
    &lt;/tr&gt;
    &lt;tr&gt;
        &lt;td&gt;16&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/td&gt;
        &lt;td&gt;914.286&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/td&gt;
        &lt;td&gt;A^/Bvv&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/td&gt;
        &lt;td style="text-align: center;"&gt;27/16, 46/27&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/td&gt;
    &lt;/tr&gt;
    &lt;tr&gt;
        &lt;td&gt;17&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/td&gt;
        &lt;td&gt;971.429&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/td&gt;
        &lt;td&gt;A^^/Bv&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/td&gt;
        &lt;td style="text-align: center;"&gt;7/4&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/td&gt;
    &lt;/tr&gt;
    &lt;tr&gt;
        &lt;td&gt;18&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/td&gt;
        &lt;td&gt;1028.571&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/td&gt;
        &lt;td&gt;B&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/td&gt;
        &lt;td style="text-align: center;"&gt;29/16, 9/5&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/td&gt;
    &lt;/tr&gt;
    &lt;tr&gt;
        &lt;td&gt;19&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/td&gt;
        &lt;td&gt;1085.714&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/td&gt;
        &lt;td&gt;B^/Cvv&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/td&gt;
        &lt;td style="text-align: center;"&gt;15/8&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/td&gt;
    &lt;/tr&gt;
    &lt;tr&gt;
        &lt;td&gt;20&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/td&gt;
        &lt;td&gt;1142.857&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/td&gt;
        &lt;td&gt;B^^/Cv&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/td&gt;
        &lt;td style="text-align: center;"&gt;27/14, 29/15&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/td&gt;
    &lt;/tr&gt;
    &lt;tr&gt;
        &lt;td&gt;21&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/td&gt;
        &lt;td&gt;1200&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/td&gt;
        &lt;td&gt;C&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/td&gt;
        &lt;td style="text-align: center;"&gt;2/1&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/td&gt;
    &lt;/tr&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;


&lt;br /&gt;
0-7-12 = C ^E G = C^ = C up
*based on treating 21-EDO as a 2.7.15.23.27.29 subgroup temperament; other approaches are possible.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;strong&gt;21-tone scales:&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;a class="wiki_link" href="/augment6"&gt;augment6&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;a class="wiki_link" href="/augment9"&gt;augment9&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;a class="wiki_link" href="/augment12"&gt;augment12&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;!-- ws:start:WikiTextHeadingRule:2:&amp;lt;h2&amp;gt; --&gt;&lt;h2 id="toc1"&gt;&lt;a name="x21 equal divisions of the octave-Commas"&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;!-- ws:end:WikiTextHeadingRule:2 --&gt;Commas&lt;/h2&gt;
21 EDO tempers out the following commas. (Note: This assumes the val &amp;lt; 21 33 49 59 73 78 |.)&lt;br /&gt;


0-6-11 = C E vG = C(v5) = C down-five


&lt;table class="wiki_table"&gt;
0-7-13 = C ^E ^G = C^(^5) = C up up-five
    &lt;tr&gt;
        &lt;th&gt;Comma&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/th&gt;
        &lt;th&gt;Monzo&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/th&gt;
        &lt;th&gt;Value (Cents)&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/th&gt;
        &lt;th&gt;Name 1&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/th&gt;
        &lt;th&gt;Name 2&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/th&gt;
    &lt;/tr&gt;
    &lt;tr&gt;
        &lt;td style="text-align: center;"&gt;2187/2048&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/td&gt;
        &lt;td style="text-align: left;"&gt;| -11 7 &amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/td&gt;
        &lt;td style="text-align: right;"&gt;113.69&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/td&gt;
        &lt;td style="text-align: center;"&gt;Apotome&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/td&gt;
        &lt;td style="text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/td&gt;
    &lt;/tr&gt;
    &lt;tr&gt;
        &lt;td style="text-align: center;"&gt;128/125&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/td&gt;
        &lt;td style="text-align: left;"&gt;| 7 0 -3 &amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/td&gt;
        &lt;td style="text-align: right;"&gt;41.06&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/td&gt;
        &lt;td style="text-align: center;"&gt;Diesis&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/td&gt;
        &lt;td style="text-align: center;"&gt;Augmented Comma&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/td&gt;
    &lt;/tr&gt;
    &lt;tr&gt;
        &lt;td style="text-align: center;"&gt;9931568/9752117&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/td&gt;
        &lt;td style="text-align: left;"&gt;| -25 7 6 &amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/td&gt;
        &lt;td style="text-align: right;"&gt;31.57&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/td&gt;
        &lt;td style="text-align: center;"&gt;Ampersand's Comma&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/td&gt;
        &lt;td&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/td&gt;
    &lt;/tr&gt;
    &lt;tr&gt;
        &lt;td style="text-align: center;"&gt;9193891/9143623&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/td&gt;
        &lt;td style="text-align: left;"&gt;| 32 -7 -9 &amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/td&gt;
        &lt;td style="text-align: right;"&gt;9.49&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/td&gt;
        &lt;td style="text-align: center;"&gt;Escapade Comma&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/td&gt;
        &lt;td&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/td&gt;
    &lt;/tr&gt;
    &lt;tr&gt;
        &lt;td style="text-align: center;"&gt;1029/1000&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/td&gt;
        &lt;td style="text-align: left;"&gt;| -3 1 -3 3 &amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/td&gt;
        &lt;td style="text-align: right;"&gt;49.49&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/td&gt;
        &lt;td style="text-align: center;"&gt;Keega&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/td&gt;
        &lt;td style="text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/td&gt;
    &lt;/tr&gt;
    &lt;tr&gt;
        &lt;td style="text-align: center;"&gt;36/35&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/td&gt;
        &lt;td style="text-align: left;"&gt;| 2 2 -1 -1 &amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/td&gt;
        &lt;td style="text-align: right;"&gt;48.77&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/td&gt;
        &lt;td style="text-align: center;"&gt;Septimal Quarter Tone&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/td&gt;
        &lt;td&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/td&gt;
    &lt;/tr&gt;
    &lt;tr&gt;
        &lt;td style="text-align: center;"&gt;9859966/9733137&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/td&gt;
        &lt;td style="text-align: left;"&gt;| -10 7 8 -7 &amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/td&gt;
        &lt;td style="text-align: right;"&gt;22.41&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/td&gt;
        &lt;td style="text-align: center;"&gt;Blackjackisma&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/td&gt;
        &lt;td style="text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/td&gt;
    &lt;/tr&gt;
    &lt;tr&gt;
        &lt;td style="text-align: center;"&gt;1029/1024&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/td&gt;
        &lt;td style="text-align: left;"&gt;| -10 1 0 3 &amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/td&gt;
        &lt;td style="text-align: right;"&gt;8.43&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/td&gt;
        &lt;td style="text-align: center;"&gt;Gamelisma&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/td&gt;
        &lt;td style="text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/td&gt;
    &lt;/tr&gt;
    &lt;tr&gt;
        &lt;td style="text-align: center;"&gt;225/224&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/td&gt;
        &lt;td style="text-align: left;"&gt;| -5 2 2 -1 &amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/td&gt;
        &lt;td style="text-align: right;"&gt;7.71&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/td&gt;
        &lt;td style="text-align: center;"&gt;Septimal Kleisma&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/td&gt;
        &lt;td style="text-align: center;"&gt;Marvel Comma&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/td&gt;
    &lt;/tr&gt;
    &lt;tr&gt;
        &lt;td style="text-align: center;"&gt;16875/16807&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/td&gt;
        &lt;td style="text-align: left;"&gt;| 0 3 4 -5 &amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/td&gt;
        &lt;td style="text-align: right;"&gt;6.99&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/td&gt;
        &lt;td style="text-align: center;"&gt;Mirkwai&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/td&gt;
        &lt;td style="text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/td&gt;
    &lt;/tr&gt;
    &lt;tr&gt;
        &lt;td style="text-align: center;"&gt;2401/2400&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/td&gt;
        &lt;td style="text-align: left;"&gt;| -5 -1 -2 4 &amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/td&gt;
        &lt;td style="text-align: right;"&gt;0.72&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/td&gt;
        &lt;td style="text-align: center;"&gt;Breedsma&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/td&gt;
        &lt;td style="text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/td&gt;
    &lt;/tr&gt;
    &lt;tr&gt;
        &lt;td style="text-align: center;"&gt;394839/394762&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/td&gt;
        &lt;td style="text-align: left;"&gt;| 47 -7 -7 -7 &amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/td&gt;
        &lt;td style="text-align: right;"&gt;0.34&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/td&gt;
        &lt;td style="text-align: center;"&gt;Akjaysma&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/td&gt;
        &lt;td style="text-align: center;"&gt;5\7 Octave Comma&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/td&gt;
    &lt;/tr&gt;
    &lt;tr&gt;
        &lt;td style="text-align: center;"&gt;99/98&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/td&gt;
        &lt;td style="text-align: left;"&gt;| -1 2 0 -2 1 &amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/td&gt;
        &lt;td style="text-align: right;"&gt;17.58&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/td&gt;
        &lt;td style="text-align: center;"&gt;Mothwellsma&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/td&gt;
        &lt;td style="text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/td&gt;
    &lt;/tr&gt;
    &lt;tr&gt;
        &lt;td style="text-align: center;"&gt;176/175&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/td&gt;
        &lt;td style="text-align: left;"&gt;| 4 0 -2 -1 1 &amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/td&gt;
        &lt;td style="text-align: right;"&gt;9.86&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/td&gt;
        &lt;td style="text-align: center;"&gt;Valinorsma&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/td&gt;
        &lt;td style="text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/td&gt;
    &lt;/tr&gt;
    &lt;tr&gt;
        &lt;td style="text-align: center;"&gt;4000/3993&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/td&gt;
        &lt;td style="text-align: left;"&gt;| 5 -1 3 0 -3 &amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/td&gt;
        &lt;td style="text-align: right;"&gt;3.03&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/td&gt;
        &lt;td style="text-align: center;"&gt;Wizardharry&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/td&gt;
        &lt;td style="text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/td&gt;
    &lt;/tr&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;


&lt;br /&gt;
0-6-12-18 = C E G B = C7 = C seven
&lt;br /&gt;
 
&lt;br /&gt;
0-6-12-17 = C E G vB = C,v7 = C add down-seven
&lt;!-- ws:start:WikiTextHeadingRule:4:&amp;lt;h1&amp;gt; --&gt;&lt;h1 id="toc2"&gt;&lt;a name="Books / Literature:"&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;!-- ws:end:WikiTextHeadingRule:4 --&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Books / Literature:&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/h1&gt;
 
Sword, Ron. &amp;quot;Icosihenaphonic Scales for Guitar&amp;quot;. IAAA Press. 1st ed: July 2009.&lt;br /&gt;
0-5-12-18 = C vE G B = Cv,7 = C down add seven
&lt;!-- ws:start:WikiTextRemoteImageRule:434:&amp;lt;img src=&amp;quot;http://www.ronsword.com/images/ron1.jpg&amp;quot; alt=&amp;quot;&amp;quot; title=&amp;quot;&amp;quot; style=&amp;quot;height: 188px; width: 254px;&amp;quot; /&amp;gt; --&gt;&lt;img src="http://www.ronsword.com/images/ron1.jpg" alt="external image ron1.jpg" title="external image ron1.jpg" style="height: 188px; width: 254px;" /&gt;&lt;!-- ws:end:WikiTextRemoteImageRule:434 --&gt;&lt;!-- ws:start:WikiTextRemoteImageRule:435:&amp;lt;img src=&amp;quot;http://www.swordguitars.com/21tetsm.JPG&amp;quot; alt=&amp;quot;&amp;quot; title=&amp;quot;&amp;quot; style=&amp;quot;height: 191px; width: 363px;&amp;quot; /&amp;gt; --&gt;&lt;img src="http://www.swordguitars.com/21tetsm.JPG" alt="external image 21tetsm.JPG" title="external image 21tetsm.JPG" style="height: 191px; width: 363px;" /&gt;&lt;!-- ws:end:WikiTextRemoteImageRule:435 --&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
 
&lt;strong&gt;&lt;em&gt;21-edo Icosihenaphonic Acoustic Guitar (Ron Sword)&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
0-5-12-17 = C vE G vB = Cv7 = C down-seven
&lt;br /&gt;
 
&lt;!-- ws:start:WikiTextHeadingRule:6:&amp;lt;h1&amp;gt; --&gt;&lt;h1 id="toc3"&gt;&lt;a name="Compositions/Listening:"&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;!-- ws:end:WikiTextHeadingRule:6 --&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Compositions/Listening:&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/h1&gt;
For a more complete list, see [[Ups and downs notation#Chords and Chord Progressions]].
&lt;a class="wiki_link_ext" href="http://www.ronsword.com/sounds/21_improv.mp3" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"&gt;Short Clip of 21-edo Acoustic&lt;/a&gt; by &lt;a class="wiki_link" href="/Ron%20Sword"&gt;Ron Sword&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
 
&lt;a class="wiki_link_ext" href="http://www.ronsword.com/sounds/Ron_Sword_21_Tone_improv.mp3" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"&gt;Open tuning Drone Improvisation in 21-edo&lt;/a&gt; by Ron Sword&lt;br /&gt;
=== Triadic harmony ===
&lt;a class="wiki_link_ext" href="http://www.soundclick.com/bands/page_songInfo.cfm?bandID=122613&amp;amp;songID=933715" rel="nofollow"&gt;Anomalous Readings&lt;/a&gt; &lt;a class="wiki_link_ext" href="http://clones.soonlabel.com/public/micro/gene_ward_smith/Others/Heathwaite/andrewheathwaite+anomalousreadingsin21tet.mp3" rel="nofollow"&gt;play&lt;/a&gt; by &lt;a class="wiki_link" href="/Andrew%20Heathwaite"&gt;Andrew Heathwaite&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/body&gt;&lt;/html&gt;</pre></div>
One interesting feature of 21edo is the variety of triads it offers. Five of its intervals--228.6¢, 285.7¢, 342.9¢, 400¢, and 457.1¢ can function categorically as "3rds" for those whose ears are accustomed to diatonic interval categories, representing inframinor, minor, neutral, major, and ultramajor 3rds respectively (or dud, down, perfect, up and dup). One can couple these with 21edo's narrow fifth to form five types of triad. In addition to these, there are a few noteworthy "altered" triads that stand out as representations to parts of the harmonic series:
 
{| class="wikitable center-1 center-2 center-3"
|-
! Steps
! Cents
! Ratio
! Example in C
! Written name
! Spoken name
|-
| 0-5-10
| 0-286-571
| 23:27:32
| C vE vvG
| Cv(vv5)
| C down, dud five
|-
| 0-4-11
| 0-229-629
| 7:8:10
| C vvE vG
| Cvv(v5)
| C dud, down five
|-
| 0-6-11
| 0-343-629
| 9:11:13
| C E vG
| C(v5)
| C down-five
|-
| 0-5-13
| 0-286-743
| 11:13:17
| C vE ^G
| Cv(^5)
| C down up-five
|-
| 0-8-13
| 0-457-743
| 13:17:20
| C vF ^G
| Cv4(^5)
| C (sus) down-four up-five
|}
 
== Approximation to JI ==
While 21edo does not approximate most low-limit just intervals well, it approximates a number of harmonics quite accurately. For example, 21edo closely approximates the [[octave-reduced]] [[harmonic]]s [[7/4]] (a subminor seventh), [[15/8]] (a major seventh), [[23/16]] (a wide tritone), [[29/16]] (a supraminor seventh), [[31/16]] (a supermajor seventh), [[33/32]] (a quartertone), [[39/32]] (a neutral third), and [[43/32]] (an acute fourth). The intervals [[17/16]], [[19/16]], [[27/16]] are approximated less accurately, but are still usable, though 19 being flat combined with 17 and 27 being sharp means that [[19/17]] and [[27/19]] are over 20 cents off. 21edo can be crudely treated as a no-11s 31-limit temperament, though the lack of consistency will give some unusual results, such as [[10/9]] being mapped wider than [[9/8]]. However, treating 21edo as a 2.15.7.33.39.23.29.31.43 subgroup temperament allows for a more accurate JI interpretation of the tuning, with a maximum error of any 43-odd-limit interval in this subgroup being 6.4{{c}}. These approximations are also used by [[63edo]] and [[84edo]], which each cover many primes in high limits. 21edo also works well on the 2.27.9/5.7.11/5.13/5.17/5 subgroup, which can be derived from 63edo, and is possibly a more sensible way to treat it.
 
{| class="wikitable right-1 right-2 mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|+ style="white-space: nowrap;" | JI approximation of 21edo
|-
! Steps
! Cents
! Approximate ratios*
! Additional ratios<br>of 17, 19, and 27**
|-
| 0
| 0.00
| colspan="2" | [[1/1]]
|-
| 1
| 57.14
| [[29/28]], [[30/29]], [[31/30]], [[32/31]], [[33/32]]
| [[28/27]], [[34/33]], [[39/38]]
|-
| 2
| 114.29
| [[15/14]], [[16/15]], [[31/29]], [[33/31]], [[46/43]]
| [[17/16]], [[29/27]]
|-
| 3
| 171.43
| [[11/10]], [[32/29]], [[31/28]], [[43/39]]
| [[10/9]], [[19/17]], [[34/31]]
|-
| 4
| 228.57
| [[8/7]], [[33/29]]
| [[17/15]], [[31/27]], [[38/33]], [[43/38]]
|-
| 5
| 285.71
| [[13/11]], [[33/28]], [[46/39]]
| [[19/16]], [[27/23]], [[32/27]], [[34/29]]
|-
| 6
| 342.86
| [[28/23]], [[39/32]]
| [[11/9]], [[17/14]], [[23/19]], [[38/31]]
|-
| 7
| 400.00
| [[29/23]], [[39/31]]
| [[19/15]], [[34/27]], [[43/34]], [[54/43]]
|-
| 8
| 457.14
| [[13/10]], [[30/23]], [[39/30]], [[43/33]], [[56/43]]
| [[38/29]]
|-
| 9
| 514.29
| [[31/23]], [[39/29]], [[43/32]], [[58/43]]
| [[19/14]], [[23/17]]
|-
| 10
| 571.43
| [[32/23]], [[39/28]], [[46/33]], [[43/31]], [[60/43]]
| [[18/13]], [[38/27]]
|-
| 11
| 628.57
| [[23/16]], [[56/39]], [[33/23]], [[43/30]], [[62/43]]
| [[13/9]], [[27/19]]
|-
| 12
| 685.71
| [[46/31]], [[58/39]], [[43/29]], [[64/43]]
| [[28/19]], [[34/23]]
|-
| 13
| 742.86
| [[20/13]], [[23/15]], [[60/39]], [[43/28]], [[66/43]]
| [[29/19]]
|-
| 14
| 800.00
| [[46/29]], [[62/39]]
| [[30/19]], [[27/17]], [[43/27]], [[68/43]]
|-
| 15
| 857.14
| [[23/14]], [[64/39]]
| [[18/11]], [[28/17]], [[38/23]], [[31/19]]
|-
| 16
| 914.29
| [[22/13]], [[56/33]], [[39/23]]
| [[32/19]], [[27/16]], [[46/27]], [[29/17]]
|-
| 17
| 971.43
| [[7/4]], [[58/33]]
| [[30/17]], [[54/31]], [[33/19]], [[76/43]]
|-
| 18
| 1028.57
| [[20/11]], [[29/16]], [[56/31]], [[78/43]]
| [[9/5]], [[34/19]], [[31/17]]
|-
| 19
| 1085.71
| [[15/8]], [[28/15]], [[58/31]], [[62/33]], [[43/23]]
| [[32/17]], [[54/29]]
|-
| 20
| 1142.86
| [[29/15]], [[56/29]], [[31/16]], [[60/31]], [[64/33]]
| [[27/14]], [[33/17]], [[76/39]]
|-
| 21
| 1200.00
| colspan="2" | [[2/1]]
|}
<nowiki/>*43-odd-limit ratios of the 2.15.7.33.39.23.29.31.43 subgroup
 
<nowiki/>**Odd 27 by direct approximation
 
Note: In the second column, the ratios 9/5, 11/9, 13/9, and their octave complements are all included here, being expressable as 27/15, 33/27, and 39/27 respectively. These ratios are mapped inconsistently to their second-best approximations in the patent val.
 
=== 15-odd-limit interval mappings ===
{{Q-odd-limit intervals}}
 
== Regular temperament properties ==
The [[patent val]] for 21edo tempers out [[128/125]] and [[2187/2000]] in the [[5-limit]], and supplies the [[optimal patent val]] for the 5-limit [[laconic]] temperament tempering out 2187/2000, and also the optimal patent val for 7-, 11- and 13-limit [[gorgo]], and 11- and 13-limit spartan. These temperaments lead to some "interesting" mappings, where 10/9 is larger than 9/8, 11/9 is larger than 16/13, and 8/7 maps to the same interval as 10/9, for instance.
 
=== Uniform maps ===
{{Uniform map|edo=21}}
 
=== Commas ===
21et [[tempering out|tempers out]] the following [[comma]]s. (Note: This assumes the [[val]] {{val| 21 33 49 59 73 78 }}.)
 
{| class="commatable wikitable center-all left-3 right-4 left-6"
|-
! [[Harmonic limit|Prime<br>Limit]]
! [[Ratio]]<ref>Ratios longer than 10 digits are presented by placeholders with informative hints</ref>
! [[Monzo]]
! [[Cent]]s
! [[Color name]]
! Name(s)
|-
| 3
| [[2187/2048]]
| {{monzo| -11 7 }}
| 113.69
| Lawa
| Whtiewood comma, apotome, Pythagorean chroma
|-
| 5
| [[128/125]]
| {{monzo| 7 0 -3 }}
| 41.06
| Trigu
| Augmented comma, diesis
|-
| 5
| [[34171875/33554432|(16 digits)]]
| {{monzo| -25 7 6 }}
| 31.57
| Lala-tribiyo
| [[Ampersand comma]]
|-
| 5
| <abbr title="4294967296/4271484375">(20 digits)</abbr>
| {{monzo| 32 -7 -9 }}
| 9.49
| Sasa-tritrigu
| [[Escapade comma]]
|-
| 7
| [[1029/1000]]
| {{monzo| -3 1 -3 3 }}
| 49.49
| Trizogu
| Keega
|-
| 7
| [[36/35]]
| {{monzo| 2 2 -1 -1 }}
| 48.77
| Rugu
| Mint comma, septimal quartertone
|-
| 7
| <abbr title="854296875/843308032">(18 digits)</abbr>
| {{monzo| -10 7 8 -7 }}
| 22.41
| Lasepru-aquadbiyo
| [[Blackjackisma]]
|-
| 7
| [[1029/1024]]
| {{monzo| -10 1 0 3 }}
| 8.43
| Latrizo
| Gamelisma
|-
| 7
| [[225/224]]
| {{monzo| -5 2 2 -1 }}
| 7.71
| Ruyoyo
| Marvel comma, septimal kleisma
|-
| 7
| [[16875/16807]]
| {{monzo| 0 3 4 -5 }}
| 6.99
| Quinru-aquadyo
| Mirkwai comma
|-
| 7
| [[2401/2400]]
| {{monzo| -5 -1 -2 4 }}
| 0.72
| Bizozogu
| Breedsma
|-
| 7
| <abbr title="140737488355328/140710042265625">(30 digits)</abbr>
| {{monzo| 47 -7 -7 -7 }}
| 0.34
| Trisa-seprugu
| [[Akjaysma]]
|-
| 11
| [[99/98]]
| {{monzo| -1 2 0 -2 1 }}
| 17.58
| Loruru
| Mothwellsma
|-
| 11
| [[176/175]]
| {{monzo| 4 0 -2 -1 1 }}
| 9.86
| Lorugugu
| Valinorsma
|-
| 11
| [[4000/3993]]
| {{monzo| 5 -1 3 0 -3 }}
| 3.03
| Triluyo
| Wizardharry comma
|}
<references/>
 
=== Rank-2 temperaments ===
* [[List of 21edo rank two temperaments by badness]]
 
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Periods<br>per 8ve
! Generator
! Temperaments
|-
| 1
| 1\21
| [[Escapade]]
|-
| 1
| 2\21
| [[Miracle]]
|-
| 1
| 4\21
| [[Slendric]] / [[gorgo]] / [[gidorah]]
|-
| 1
| 5\21
| [[Subklei]]
|-
| 1
| 8\21
| [[Tridec]]
|-
| 1
| 10\21
| [[Triton]]
|-
| 3
| 1\21
| [[Hemiug]]
|-
| 3
| 2\21
| [[Augmented (temperament)|Augmented]] / [[august]]
|-
| 3
| 3\21
| [[Oodako]]
|-
| 7
| 1\21
| [[Whitewood]]
|}
 
== Scales ==
=== MOS scales ===
Since 21edo contains sub-edos of 3 and 7, it contains no heptatonic [[MOS scale]]s (other than 7edo and a few very [[Step ratio|hard]] scales) and a wealth of scales that repeat at a 1/3-octave period.
 
For 7-limit harmony (based on a chord of 0-7-12-17 approximating 4:5:6:7), using 1/3-octave period scales (i.e. those related to [[augmented (temperament)|augmented]] temperament) yields the most harmonically-efficient scales. The 9-tone [[3L 6s]] scale (related to Tcherepnin's scale in [[12edo]]) is an excellent example.
 
For scales with a full-octave period, only 6 degrees of 21edo generate unique scales: 1\21, 2\21, 4\21, 5\21, 8\21, and 10\21. Other degrees generate either 7edo, 3edo, or a repetition of one of the other scales.
 
21edo has the [[Step ratio|soft]] [[oneirotonic]] ([[5L 3s]]) MOS with generator 8\21; in addition to the [[naiadic]]s that generate it, it has neutral thirds (instead of major thirds as in [[13edo]] oneirotonic), neogothic minor thirds, and Baroque diatonic semitones. The 4-oneirosteps are more tritone-like than fifth-like, unlike in 13edo, although they do have a consonant, even JI-like quality to them. In terms of JI, it mainly approximates 16:23:30, 16:23:29 and their inversions.
 
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Periods per octave
! Generator
! MOSes
|-
| 1
| 2\21
| [[1L 9s]] <br> [[10L 1s]]
|-
| 1
| 4\21
| [[5L 1s]]<br/>[[5L 6s]]
|-
| 1
| 5\21
| [[4L 1s]]<br/> [[4L 5s]]<br/> [[4L 9s]]
|-
| 1
| 8\21
| [[3L 2s]]<br/> [[5L 3s]]<br/> [[8L 5s]]
|-
| 3
| 2\21
| [[3L 3s]]<br/> [[3L 6s]]<br/> [[9L 3s]]
|-
| 3
| 3\21
| [[3L 3s]]<br/> [[6L 3s]]<br/>[[6L 9s]]
|-
| 7
| 1\21
| [[7L 7s]]
|}
 
==== List of useful MOS ====
* [[August]][6]: 5 2 5 2 5 2 (can use this like the augmented scale)
* August[12]: 2 1 2 2 2 1 2 2 2 1 2 2 (can use this like the chromatic scale)
* [[Oodako]][6]: 3 4 3 4 3 4 (can use this like the whole tone scale)
* Oodako[9]: 3 1 3 3 1 3 3 1 3 (optimised for no-fifths, no-fourths harmony, very [[xenharmonic]])
* Oodako[15]: 1 2 1 2 1 1 2 1 2 1 1 2 1 2 1
* [[Slendric]][5]: 4 4 4 4 5
* Slendric[6]: 4 4 4 4 1 4
* Slendric[11]: 1 3 1 3 1 3 1 3 1 3 1 (optimised for no-5s [[17-limit]] harmony, very xenharmonic)
* [[Whitewood]][7]: 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 (identical to [[7edo]])
* Whitewood[14]: 2 1 2 1 2 1 2 1 2 1 2 1 2 1
 
=== Rank-3 scales ===
The rank-3 scale [[diasem]] (3 2 3 1 3 2 3 1 3 or 3 1 3 2 3 1 3 2 3 in 21edo) is the 21edo tempering of [[Zarlino]] diatonic with 1\21 comma steps added, resulting in two "major seconds" (171{{c}} and 228{{c}}), two "minor thirds" (286{{c}} and 343{{c}}) and two "fourths" (457{{c}} and 514{{c}}). 21edo is the smallest edo to support a non-degenerate diasem (with L:M:S ratio 3:2:1).
 
=== Tetrachordal scales ===
While 21edo lacks any 7-note MOS scales, one can still construct a variety of interesting and useful 7-note scales using tetrachords instead of MOS generators. The 21edo fourth is 9 steps, which can be divided into three parts in the following ways:
 
{| class="wikitable center-1 center-2"
|-
! [[Step pattern]]
! [[Cents]]
! Example
! Name*
! Ups/downs name
|-
| 3, 3, 3
| (0)-171-343-(514)
| C D E F
| Equable diatonic
| C perfect
|-
| 4, 3, 2
| (0)-229-400-(514)
| C ^D ^E F
| Soft diatonic
| C up, up-2
|-
| 4, 4, 1
| (0)-229-457-(514)
| C ^D ^^E F
| Intense diatonic
| C dup, up-2 &amp; 6
|-
| 5, 3, 1
| (0)-286-457-(514)
| C ^^D ^^E F
| Archytas chromatic
| C dup, dup-2
|-
| 5, 2, 2
| (0)-286-400-(514)
| C ^^D ^E F
| Weak chromatic
| C up, dup 2 &amp; 6
|-
| 6, 2, 1
| (0)-343-457-(514)
| C ^<span style="font-size: 90%; vertical-align: super;">3</span>D ^^E F
| Strong enharmonic
| C dup, trup 2 &amp; 6
|-
| 7, 1, 1
| (0)-400-457-(514)
| C ^<span style="font-size: 90%; vertical-align: super;">4</span>D ^^E F
| Pythagorean enharmonic
| C dup, quadruple-up 2 &amp; 6
|}
&lowast;These names may not be correct in relating to the ancient Greek tetrachordal [[genera]]; please change them if you know better!
 
The steps of these 7 basic patterns can also be permuted/rotated to give a total of 28 tetrachords, which can then be combined in either conjunct or disjunct form to yield a staggering number of scales. Thus 21 EDO can do reasonably-convincing imitations of the melodic forms of various tetrachordal musical traditions, such as ancient Greek, maqam, and dastgah.
 
=== Other scales ===
Some [[modmos]] of the [[miracle]] temperament are available in 21edo:
* Modmos of miracle[8]: 2 5 2 3 3 1 3 2
* Modmos of miracle[11]: 2 3 1 1 2 3 2 1 1 3 2
 
The subset 2 3 7 2 7 of 21edo ([[Pelog21]]) sounds similar to the ''Pelog lima'' mode of the [[Pelog]] scale.
 
Some modified versions of that Pelog-like scale, which vaguely resemble Japanese scales, include:
* 4 1 7 2 7
* 4 1 7 3 6
They sound best with with metallic and/or percussive timbres, such as the aperiodic timbres in [[Scale Workshop]].
 
The subset 4 5 3 5 4 of 21edo is a kooky pseudo-[[equipentatonic]] scale.
 
The subset 2 5 5 6 3 of 21edo is a good tuning for the [[magnetosphere scale]]{{idio}}.
 
== Instruments ==
[[Lumatone mapping for 21edo|Lumatone mappings for 21edo]] are available.
 
== Music ==
; [[Abnormality]]
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EcHBY0S024s ''DEUS EX 5L1s''] (2025)
 
; [[Beheld]]
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xTcevFGxB_Q ''Huge vibe'']
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FW8AMFdkDw4 ''Hearty vibe''] (2024)
 
; [[Bryan Deister]]
* [https://www.youtube.com/shorts/yLSIZxJnMh8 ''21edo waltz''] (2025)
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1S4C-m_Dcno ''21edo improv''] (2026)
* [https://www.youtube.com/shorts/9a-nJ_Ml9z8 ''21edo groove''] (2026)
 
; [[Fabrizio Fiale]]
* [https://www.reverbnation.com/ffffiale/song/17858773-lesatonale-ubriaco ''L'esatonale ubriaco (the drunk hexatonal), ALIENAMENTE'']
 
; [[Francium]]
* "Gordon Guide" from ''XenRhythms'' (2024) – [https://open.spotify.com/track/3O8rX7wHSYFV2AXj6yVc5u Spotify] | [https://francium223.bandcamp.com/track/gordon-guide Bandcamp] | [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pOJhks06uLI YouTube] – in Gorgo[11], 21edo tuning
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=llr_vws6alY ''Gumballs & Party Dancing''] (2025)
 
; [[Frédéric Gagné]]
* [https://youtu.be/tDjLcCictVQ?t=119 ''Tostarena: Ruins (21edo cover)''], from [[XA Discord]]'s ''Xen Cover Project 2'' ([https://musescore.com/user/5995996/scores/8607089 score])
 
; [[Frédéric Gagné]], [[Ian Means]] and [[User:AraMax|AraMax]]
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9rTbLQ9j1sE&t=135s ''Mirage Haze''], from XA Discord's ''Deleted User EP'' ([https://musescore.com/user/5995996/scores/7852055 score])
 
; [[Andrew Heathwaite]]
* [https://www.soundclick.com/bands/page_songInfo.cfm?bandID=122613&songID=933715 ''Anomalous Readings''] [http://clones.soonlabel.com/public/micro/gene_ward_smith/Others/Heathwaite/andrewheathwaite+anomalousreadingsin21tet.mp3 (MP3)]
 
; [[Inthar]]
* ''[[:File:The Angels' Library.mp3|The Angels' Library]] in the Sarnathian (23233233) mode of 21edo [[5L 3s]]'' ([[:File:The Angels' Library Score.pdf|score]])
 
; [[Budjarn Lambeth]]
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tIwfO1lZWAc ''The Bells In The Rain (uses a scale designed for metallic timbres)''] (2025)
 
; [[Claudi Meneghin]]
* [http://soonlabel.com/xenharmonic/archives/2336 ''21-penny jingle''] {{dead link}}
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lpcqXD8tpXc ''Trio Sonata in 21edo for Organ (The Sewing Machine)''] (2018)
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n0QA0ZQHPvk ''21edo Chacony, for two Harpsichords''] (2019)
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0aKutu0gVg ''Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, with Shepard Effect''] (2023)
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XlpAbSdy_sg ''Trio Sonata for Baroque Trio in 21 EDO''] (2026)
 
; [[Nick, The NRG]]
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHyrWBH57sw ''Moonlight Shanty'']
 
; [[NullPointerException Music]]
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9RCuWizgTbg ''Edolian - Twenty-One''] (2020)
 
; [[Ray Perlner]]
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oGsc0TcjE2k ''3 Canon Exercises in 21EDO the 3 modes of August9 / Messiaen Mode 3''] (2024)
 
; [[Relyt R]]
* from ''Xuixo'' (2023)
** ''Silicon Burning'' [https://relytr.bandcamp.com/track/silicon-burning-21-edo Bandcamp] | [https://open.spotify.com/track/4MxWvoBpGAbBVvvD3uZhDp Spotify]
** ''10 Megakelvin'' [https://relytr.bandcamp.com/track/10-megakelvin-21-edo Bandcamp] | [https://open.spotify.com/track/7D8gGwgdctEyoAxDqfgLEI Spotify]
 
; [[Ron Sword]]
* [http://www.ronsword.com/sounds/21_improv.mp3 ''Short Clip of 21-edo Acoustic''] {{dead link}}
* [http://www.ronsword.com/sounds/Ron_Sword_21_Tone_improv.mp3 ''Open tuning Drone Improvisation in 21-edo''] {{dead link}}
 
; [[Stephen Weigel]]
* [https://soundcloud.com/overtoneshock/little-fugue-21-edo?in=overtoneshock/sets/xenharmonic-microtonal ''Iridescent Wenge Fugue''] (accepted to [https://www.seamusonline.org/ SEAMUS 2018] and [http://eabarndance.com/ Electroacoustic Barn Dance 2018])
* [https://xenharmonicgod.bandcamp.com/album/weigel-family-christmas-xenharmonic-chocolate ''WEIGEL FAMILY CHRISTMAS (xenharmonic chocolate)'']{{dead link}}, an album of xenharmonic Christmas covers, many are in 21 EDO
 
; [[Randy Wells]]
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sA5HfL3FjJU ''The Island Scene'']
 
; [[Randy Winchester]]
* [http://micro.soonlabel.com/gene_ward_smith/Others/Winchester/15%20-%2015.%2021%20octave.mp3 ''Comets Over Flatland 15'']
* [http://micro.soonlabel.com/gene_ward_smith/Others/Winchester/18%20-%2018.%2021%20octave.mp3 ''Comets Over Flatland 18'']
 
; [[User:Fitzgerald_Lee|Fitzgerald Lee]]
* [https://youtu.be/Nxn2FJWORIg ''Teetering Rag''] (2025)
 
== Books / literature ==
* Sword, Ron. "Icosihenaphonic Scales for Guitar". IAAA Press. 1st ed: July 2009.
 
[[Category:21edo| ]] <!-- main article -->
[[Category:Equal divisions of the octave|##]] <!-- 2-digit number -->
[[Category:Listen]]
[[Category:Twentuning]]
[[Category:Quartismic]]
[[Category:Oneirotonic]]

Latest revision as of 04:58, 25 May 2026

← 20edo 21edo 22edo →
Prime factorization 3 × 7
Step size 57.1429 ¢ 
Fifth 12\21 (685.714 ¢) (→ 4\7)
Semitones (A1:m2) 0:3 (0 ¢ : 171.4 ¢)
Consistency limit 3
Distinct consistency limit 3

21 equal divisions of the octave (abbreviated 21edo or 21ed2), also called 21-tone equal temperament (21tet) or 21 equal temperament (21et) when viewed under a regular temperament perspective, is the tuning system that divides the octave into 21 equal parts of about 57.1 ¢ each. Each step represents a frequency ratio of 21/21, or the 21st root of 2.

Theory

21edo contains three 7edo "equiheptatonic" scales, and can be interpreted as 7edo but with the capability to inflect up or down by a quarter-tone. The 7edo subset functions as an equalized "diatonic" scale, though non-mos options might also be preferable (such as omnidiatonic). In other words, all intervals have "minor", "neutral", and "major" variations, which makes building scales in 21edo rather interesting. If 21edo is analyzed purely diatonically, no chromatic alterations can exist because the chromatic semitone is equal to 0 cents (a fact characteristic of whitewood temperaments). So, another pair of accidentals (such as ups and downs) is usually used instead, though they might be "reskinned" as sharps and flats to aid melodic intuition.

21edo supports tertian harmony with 7edo's flat fifth, containing both 7edo's neutral chords and inflected major and minor chords. The 5/4 major third is mapped to 400 ¢, identical to 12edo's, but the minor third is more extreme in 21edo due to the flatness of the fifth (closer to subminor), so that the chords might be more comparable to neogothic chords. In fact, 6/5 is slightly closer to the 6-step neutral third than the 5-step minor third, meaning 21edo lacks consistency to the 5-odd-limit.

In terms of interval regions, 21edo possesses four types of 2nds (subminor, minor, submajor, and supermajor), three types of 3rds (subminor, neutral, and major), a "third-fourth/naiadic" (an interval that can function as either a supermajor 3rd or a narrow 4th), a wide (or acute) 4th, and a narrow tritone, as well as the octave-inversions of all of these intervals.

Because 21edo is a Fibonacci edo, it contains an approximation to the logarithmic phi superfifth, which generates golden MOS scales 3L 2s, 5L 3s, and 8L 5s, with 21edo itself being an equalized version of 13L 8s.

Thanks to its sevenths, 21edo is an ideal tuning for its size for metallic harmony.

Odd harmonics

Approximation of odd harmonics in 21edo
Harmonic 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 17 19 21 23
Error Absolute (¢) -16.2 +13.7 +2.6 +24.7 +20.1 +16.6 -2.6 +9.3 -11.8 -13.6 +0.3
Relative (%) -28.4 +24.0 +4.6 +43.2 +35.2 +29.1 -4.5 +16.3 -20.6 -23.9 +0.5
Steps
(reduced)
33
(12)
49
(7)
59
(17)
67
(4)
73
(10)
78
(15)
82
(19)
86
(2)
89
(5)
92
(8)
95
(11)
Approximation of odd harmonics in 21edo (continued)
Harmonic 25 27 29 31 33 35 37 39 41 43 45
Error Absolute (¢) +27.4 +8.4 -1.0 -2.2 +3.9 +16.3 -22.8 +0.4 +28.1 +2.8 -18.8
Relative (%) +47.9 +14.7 -1.8 -3.8 +6.8 +28.5 -39.9 +0.7 +49.1 +4.8 -32.9
Steps
(reduced)
98
(14)
100
(16)
102
(18)
104
(20)
106
(1)
108
(3)
109
(4)
111
(6)
113
(8)
114
(9)
115
(10)

Intervals

Note names are given with 7edo as the naturals and arrows (written as ^ and v) for inflections up/down by one edostep. Inconsistent intervals are in italics.

# Name Cents Approximate Ratios*
0 C 0.00 1/1
1 ^C 57.14 21/20
2 vD 114.29 14/13, 15/14, 16/15
3 D 171.43 9/8, 13/12, 35/32
4 ^D 228.57 8/7, 10/9
5 vE 285.71 6/5, 7/6
6 E 342.86 39/32, 128/105, 16/13
7 ^E 400.00 5/4, 9/7
8 vF 457.14 13/10, 21/16
9 F 514.29 4/3
10 ^F 571.43 7/5
11 vG 628.57 10/7
12 G 685.71 3/2
13 ^G 742.86 20/13, 32/21
14 vA 800.00 8/5, 14/9
15 A 857.14 64/39, 105/64, 13/8
16 ^A 914.29 5/3, 12/7
17 vB 971.43 7/4, 9/5
18 B 1028.57 16/9, 24/13, 64/35
19 ^B 1085.71 13/7, 28/15, 15/8
20 vC 1142.86 40/21
21 C 1200.00 2/1

*As a 2.3.5.7.13-subgroup temperament

Notation

The following table gives a comparison of some notation systems for 21edo.

Degree Cents Ups and downs notation 5L 3s octatonic
notation
Extended-diatonic
interval name
0 0.00 1 unison C C Unison
1 57.14 ^1 vv2 up unison,
dud 2nd
^C
vvD
C# Subminor 2nd
2 114.29 ^^1
v2
dup unison,
down 2nd
^^C
vD
Db Minor 2nd
3 171.43 2 2nd D D Submajor 2nd
4 228.57 ^2
vv3
up 2nd,
dud 3rd
^D
vvE
D# Supermajor 2nd
5 285.71 ^^2
v3
dup 2nd,
down 3rd
^^D
vE
Eb Subminor 3rd
6 342.86 3 3rd E E Neutral 3rd
7 400.00 ^3
vv4
up 3rd,
dud 4th
^E
vvF
E#/Fb Major 3rd
8 457.14 ^^3
v4
dup 3rd,
down 4th
^^E
vF
F Third-fourth (naiadic)
9 514.29 4 4th F F# Acute 4th
10 571.43 ^4
vv5
up 4th,
dud 5th
^F
vvG
Gb Narrow tritone
11 628.57 ^^4
v5
dup 4th,
down 5th
^^F
vG
G Wide tritone
12 685.71 5 5th G G# Grave 5th
13 742.86 ^5
vv6
up 5th,
dud 6th
^G
vvA
Hb Fifth-sixth (cocytic)
14 800.00 ^^5
v6
dup 5th,
down 6th
^^G
vA
H Minor 6th
15 857.14 6 6th A H#/Ab Neutral 6th
16 914.29 ^6
vv7
up 6th,
dud 7th
^A
vvB
A Supermajor 6th
17 971.43 ^^6
v7
dup 6th,
down 7th
^^A
vB
A# Subminor 7th
18 1028.57 7 7th B Bb Supraminor 7th
19 1085.71 ^7
vv8
up 7th,
dud 8ve
^B
vvC
B Major 7th
20 1142.86 ^^7
v8
dup 7th,
down 8ve
^^B
vC
B#/Cb Supermajor 7th
21 1200.00 8 8ve C C Octave

Sagittal notation

This notation uses the same sagittal sequence as 16-EDO, is a subset of the notation for 42b, and is a superset of the notation for 7-EDO.

21-EDO__Sagittal.svg

Chords

Chord names

Ups and downs can be used to name 21edo chords. Because every interval is perfect, the quality can be omitted, and the words major, minor, augmented and diminished are never used. Alterations are always enclosed in parentheses, additions never are. An up or down immediately after the chord root affects the 3rd, 6th, 7th, and/or the 11th (every other note of a stacked-3rds chord 6-1-3-5-7-9-11-13).

0-6-12 = C E G = C = C or C perfect

0-5-12 = C vE G = Cv = C down

0-7-12 = C ^E G = C^ = C up

0-6-11 = C E vG = C(v5) = C down-five

0-7-13 = C ^E ^G = C^(^5) = C up up-five

0-6-12-18 = C E G B = C7 = C seven

0-6-12-17 = C E G vB = C,v7 = C add down-seven

0-5-12-18 = C vE G B = Cv,7 = C down add seven

0-5-12-17 = C vE G vB = Cv7 = C down-seven

For a more complete list, see Ups and downs notation#Chords and Chord Progressions.

Triadic harmony

One interesting feature of 21edo is the variety of triads it offers. Five of its intervals--228.6¢, 285.7¢, 342.9¢, 400¢, and 457.1¢ can function categorically as "3rds" for those whose ears are accustomed to diatonic interval categories, representing inframinor, minor, neutral, major, and ultramajor 3rds respectively (or dud, down, perfect, up and dup). One can couple these with 21edo's narrow fifth to form five types of triad. In addition to these, there are a few noteworthy "altered" triads that stand out as representations to parts of the harmonic series:

Steps Cents Ratio Example in C Written name Spoken name
0-5-10 0-286-571 23:27:32 C vE vvG Cv(vv5) C down, dud five
0-4-11 0-229-629 7:8:10 C vvE vG Cvv(v5) C dud, down five
0-6-11 0-343-629 9:11:13 C E vG C(v5) C down-five
0-5-13 0-286-743 11:13:17 C vE ^G Cv(^5) C down up-five
0-8-13 0-457-743 13:17:20 C vF ^G Cv4(^5) C (sus) down-four up-five

Approximation to JI

While 21edo does not approximate most low-limit just intervals well, it approximates a number of harmonics quite accurately. For example, 21edo closely approximates the octave-reduced harmonics 7/4 (a subminor seventh), 15/8 (a major seventh), 23/16 (a wide tritone), 29/16 (a supraminor seventh), 31/16 (a supermajor seventh), 33/32 (a quartertone), 39/32 (a neutral third), and 43/32 (an acute fourth). The intervals 17/16, 19/16, 27/16 are approximated less accurately, but are still usable, though 19 being flat combined with 17 and 27 being sharp means that 19/17 and 27/19 are over 20 cents off. 21edo can be crudely treated as a no-11s 31-limit temperament, though the lack of consistency will give some unusual results, such as 10/9 being mapped wider than 9/8. However, treating 21edo as a 2.15.7.33.39.23.29.31.43 subgroup temperament allows for a more accurate JI interpretation of the tuning, with a maximum error of any 43-odd-limit interval in this subgroup being 6.4 ¢. These approximations are also used by 63edo and 84edo, which each cover many primes in high limits. 21edo also works well on the 2.27.9/5.7.11/5.13/5.17/5 subgroup, which can be derived from 63edo, and is possibly a more sensible way to treat it.

JI approximation of 21edo
Steps Cents Approximate ratios* Additional ratios
of 17, 19, and 27**
0 0.00 1/1
1 57.14 29/28, 30/29, 31/30, 32/31, 33/32 28/27, 34/33, 39/38
2 114.29 15/14, 16/15, 31/29, 33/31, 46/43 17/16, 29/27
3 171.43 11/10, 32/29, 31/28, 43/39 10/9, 19/17, 34/31
4 228.57 8/7, 33/29 17/15, 31/27, 38/33, 43/38
5 285.71 13/11, 33/28, 46/39 19/16, 27/23, 32/27, 34/29
6 342.86 28/23, 39/32 11/9, 17/14, 23/19, 38/31
7 400.00 29/23, 39/31 19/15, 34/27, 43/34, 54/43
8 457.14 13/10, 30/23, 39/30, 43/33, 56/43 38/29
9 514.29 31/23, 39/29, 43/32, 58/43 19/14, 23/17
10 571.43 32/23, 39/28, 46/33, 43/31, 60/43 18/13, 38/27
11 628.57 23/16, 56/39, 33/23, 43/30, 62/43 13/9, 27/19
12 685.71 46/31, 58/39, 43/29, 64/43 28/19, 34/23
13 742.86 20/13, 23/15, 60/39, 43/28, 66/43 29/19
14 800.00 46/29, 62/39 30/19, 27/17, 43/27, 68/43
15 857.14 23/14, 64/39 18/11, 28/17, 38/23, 31/19
16 914.29 22/13, 56/33, 39/23 32/19, 27/16, 46/27, 29/17
17 971.43 7/4, 58/33 30/17, 54/31, 33/19, 76/43
18 1028.57 20/11, 29/16, 56/31, 78/43 9/5, 34/19, 31/17
19 1085.71 15/8, 28/15, 58/31, 62/33, 43/23 32/17, 54/29
20 1142.86 29/15, 56/29, 31/16, 60/31, 64/33 27/14, 33/17, 76/39
21 1200.00 2/1

*43-odd-limit ratios of the 2.15.7.33.39.23.29.31.43 subgroup

**Odd 27 by direct approximation

Note: In the second column, the ratios 9/5, 11/9, 13/9, and their octave complements are all included here, being expressable as 27/15, 33/27, and 39/27 respectively. These ratios are mapped inconsistently to their second-best approximations in the patent val.

15-odd-limit interval mappings

The following tables show how 15-odd-limit intervals are represented in 21edo. Prime harmonics are in bold; inconsistent intervals are in italics.

15-odd-limit intervals in 21edo (direct approximation, even if inconsistent)
Interval and complement Error (abs, ¢) Error (rel, %)
1/1, 2/1 0.000 0.0
15/8, 16/15 2.554 4.5
7/4, 8/7 2.603 4.6
13/10, 20/13 2.929 5.1
13/11, 22/13 3.495 6.1
11/9, 18/11 4.551 8.0
15/14, 28/15 5.157 9.0
11/10, 20/11 6.424 11.2
13/9, 18/13 8.046 14.1
9/5, 10/9 10.975 19.2
7/5, 10/7 11.084 19.4
5/4, 8/5 13.686 24.0
13/7, 14/13 14.013 24.5
3/2, 4/3 16.241 28.4
13/8, 16/13 16.615 29.1
11/7, 14/11 17.508 30.6
7/6, 12/7 18.843 33.0
15/13, 26/15 19.170 33.5
11/8, 16/11 20.111 35.2
11/6, 12/11 20.792 36.4
9/7, 14/9 22.059 38.6
15/11, 22/15 22.665 39.7
13/12, 24/13 24.287 42.5
9/8, 16/9 24.661 43.2
5/3, 6/5 27.216 47.6
15-odd-limit intervals in 21edo (patent val mapping)
Interval and complement Error (abs, ¢) Error (rel, %)
1/1, 2/1 0.000 0.0
15/8, 16/15 2.554 4.5
7/4, 8/7 2.603 4.6
13/10, 20/13 2.929 5.1
13/11, 22/13 3.495 6.1
15/14, 28/15 5.157 9.0
11/10, 20/11 6.424 11.2
7/5, 10/7 11.084 19.4
5/4, 8/5 13.686 24.0
13/7, 14/13 14.013 24.5
3/2, 4/3 16.241 28.4
13/8, 16/13 16.615 29.1
11/7, 14/11 17.508 30.6
7/6, 12/7 18.843 33.0
15/13, 26/15 19.170 33.5
11/8, 16/11 20.111 35.2
15/11, 22/15 22.665 39.7
5/3, 6/5 29.927 52.4
9/8, 16/9 32.481 56.8
13/12, 24/13 32.856 57.5
9/7, 14/9 35.084 61.4
11/6, 12/11 36.351 63.6
9/5, 10/9 46.168 80.8
13/9, 18/13 49.097 85.9
11/9, 18/11 52.592 92.0

Regular temperament properties

The patent val for 21edo tempers out 128/125 and 2187/2000 in the 5-limit, and supplies the optimal patent val for the 5-limit laconic temperament tempering out 2187/2000, and also the optimal patent val for 7-, 11- and 13-limit gorgo, and 11- and 13-limit spartan. These temperaments lead to some "interesting" mappings, where 10/9 is larger than 9/8, 11/9 is larger than 16/13, and 8/7 maps to the same interval as 10/9, for instance.

Uniform maps

13-limit uniform maps between 20.8 and 21.2
Min. size Max. size Wart notation Map
20.6732 20.8381 21cdef 21 33 48 58 72 77]
20.8381 20.8878 21cef 21 33 48 59 72 77]
20.8878 20.9435 21ef 21 33 49 59 72 77]
20.9435 20.9572 21e 21 33 49 59 72 78]
20.9572 21.1361 21 21 33 49 59 73 78]
21.1361 21.1943 21b 21 34 49 59 73 78]
21.1943 21.2137 21bdd 21 34 49 60 73 78]

Commas

21et tempers out the following commas. (Note: This assumes the val 21 33 49 59 73 78].)

Prime
Limit
Ratio[1] Monzo Cents Color name Name(s)
3 2187/2048 [-11 7 113.69 Lawa Whtiewood comma, apotome, Pythagorean chroma
5 128/125 [7 0 -3 41.06 Trigu Augmented comma, diesis
5 (16 digits) [-25 7 6 31.57 Lala-tribiyo Ampersand comma
5 (20 digits) [32 -7 -9 9.49 Sasa-tritrigu Escapade comma
7 1029/1000 [-3 1 -3 3 49.49 Trizogu Keega
7 36/35 [2 2 -1 -1 48.77 Rugu Mint comma, septimal quartertone
7 (18 digits) [-10 7 8 -7 22.41 Lasepru-aquadbiyo Blackjackisma
7 1029/1024 [-10 1 0 3 8.43 Latrizo Gamelisma
7 225/224 [-5 2 2 -1 7.71 Ruyoyo Marvel comma, septimal kleisma
7 16875/16807 [0 3 4 -5 6.99 Quinru-aquadyo Mirkwai comma
7 2401/2400 [-5 -1 -2 4 0.72 Bizozogu Breedsma
7 (30 digits) [47 -7 -7 -7 0.34 Trisa-seprugu Akjaysma
11 99/98 [-1 2 0 -2 1 17.58 Loruru Mothwellsma
11 176/175 [4 0 -2 -1 1 9.86 Lorugugu Valinorsma
11 4000/3993 [5 -1 3 0 -3 3.03 Triluyo Wizardharry comma
  1. Ratios longer than 10 digits are presented by placeholders with informative hints

Rank-2 temperaments

Periods
per 8ve
Generator Temperaments
1 1\21 Escapade
1 2\21 Miracle
1 4\21 Slendric / gorgo / gidorah
1 5\21 Subklei
1 8\21 Tridec
1 10\21 Triton
3 1\21 Hemiug
3 2\21 Augmented / august
3 3\21 Oodako
7 1\21 Whitewood

Scales

MOS scales

Since 21edo contains sub-edos of 3 and 7, it contains no heptatonic MOS scales (other than 7edo and a few very hard scales) and a wealth of scales that repeat at a 1/3-octave period.

For 7-limit harmony (based on a chord of 0-7-12-17 approximating 4:5:6:7), using 1/3-octave period scales (i.e. those related to augmented temperament) yields the most harmonically-efficient scales. The 9-tone 3L 6s scale (related to Tcherepnin's scale in 12edo) is an excellent example.

For scales with a full-octave period, only 6 degrees of 21edo generate unique scales: 1\21, 2\21, 4\21, 5\21, 8\21, and 10\21. Other degrees generate either 7edo, 3edo, or a repetition of one of the other scales.

21edo has the soft oneirotonic (5L 3s) MOS with generator 8\21; in addition to the naiadics that generate it, it has neutral thirds (instead of major thirds as in 13edo oneirotonic), neogothic minor thirds, and Baroque diatonic semitones. The 4-oneirosteps are more tritone-like than fifth-like, unlike in 13edo, although they do have a consonant, even JI-like quality to them. In terms of JI, it mainly approximates 16:23:30, 16:23:29 and their inversions.

Periods per octave Generator MOSes
1 2\21 1L 9s
10L 1s
1 4\21 5L 1s
5L 6s
1 5\21 4L 1s
4L 5s
4L 9s
1 8\21 3L 2s
5L 3s
8L 5s
3 2\21 3L 3s
3L 6s
9L 3s
3 3\21 3L 3s
6L 3s
6L 9s
7 1\21 7L 7s

List of useful MOS

  • August[6]: 5 2 5 2 5 2 (can use this like the augmented scale)
  • August[12]: 2 1 2 2 2 1 2 2 2 1 2 2 (can use this like the chromatic scale)
  • Oodako[6]: 3 4 3 4 3 4 (can use this like the whole tone scale)
  • Oodako[9]: 3 1 3 3 1 3 3 1 3 (optimised for no-fifths, no-fourths harmony, very xenharmonic)
  • Oodako[15]: 1 2 1 2 1 1 2 1 2 1 1 2 1 2 1
  • Slendric[5]: 4 4 4 4 5
  • Slendric[6]: 4 4 4 4 1 4
  • Slendric[11]: 1 3 1 3 1 3 1 3 1 3 1 (optimised for no-5s 17-limit harmony, very xenharmonic)
  • Whitewood[7]: 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 (identical to 7edo)
  • Whitewood[14]: 2 1 2 1 2 1 2 1 2 1 2 1 2 1

Rank-3 scales

The rank-3 scale diasem (3 2 3 1 3 2 3 1 3 or 3 1 3 2 3 1 3 2 3 in 21edo) is the 21edo tempering of Zarlino diatonic with 1\21 comma steps added, resulting in two "major seconds" (171 ¢ and 228 ¢), two "minor thirds" (286 ¢ and 343 ¢) and two "fourths" (457 ¢ and 514 ¢). 21edo is the smallest edo to support a non-degenerate diasem (with L:M:S ratio 3:2:1).

Tetrachordal scales

While 21edo lacks any 7-note MOS scales, one can still construct a variety of interesting and useful 7-note scales using tetrachords instead of MOS generators. The 21edo fourth is 9 steps, which can be divided into three parts in the following ways:

Step pattern Cents Example Name* Ups/downs name
3, 3, 3 (0)-171-343-(514) C D E F Equable diatonic C perfect
4, 3, 2 (0)-229-400-(514) C ^D ^E F Soft diatonic C up, up-2
4, 4, 1 (0)-229-457-(514) C ^D ^^E F Intense diatonic C dup, up-2 & 6
5, 3, 1 (0)-286-457-(514) C ^^D ^^E F Archytas chromatic C dup, dup-2
5, 2, 2 (0)-286-400-(514) C ^^D ^E F Weak chromatic C up, dup 2 & 6
6, 2, 1 (0)-343-457-(514) C ^3D ^^E F Strong enharmonic C dup, trup 2 & 6
7, 1, 1 (0)-400-457-(514) C ^4D ^^E F Pythagorean enharmonic C dup, quadruple-up 2 & 6

∗These names may not be correct in relating to the ancient Greek tetrachordal genera; please change them if you know better!

The steps of these 7 basic patterns can also be permuted/rotated to give a total of 28 tetrachords, which can then be combined in either conjunct or disjunct form to yield a staggering number of scales. Thus 21 EDO can do reasonably-convincing imitations of the melodic forms of various tetrachordal musical traditions, such as ancient Greek, maqam, and dastgah.

Other scales

Some modmos of the miracle temperament are available in 21edo:

  • Modmos of miracle[8]: 2 5 2 3 3 1 3 2
  • Modmos of miracle[11]: 2 3 1 1 2 3 2 1 1 3 2

The subset 2 3 7 2 7 of 21edo (Pelog21) sounds similar to the Pelog lima mode of the Pelog scale.

Some modified versions of that Pelog-like scale, which vaguely resemble Japanese scales, include:

  • 4 1 7 2 7
  • 4 1 7 3 6

They sound best with with metallic and/or percussive timbres, such as the aperiodic timbres in Scale Workshop.

The subset 4 5 3 5 4 of 21edo is a kooky pseudo-equipentatonic scale.

The subset 2 5 5 6 3 of 21edo is a good tuning for the magnetosphere scale[idiosyncratic term].

Instruments

Lumatone mappings for 21edo are available.

Music

Abnormality
Beheld
Bryan Deister
Fabrizio Fiale
Francium
Frédéric Gagné
Frédéric Gagné, Ian Means and AraMax
Andrew Heathwaite
Inthar
Budjarn Lambeth
Claudi Meneghin
Nick, The NRG
NullPointerException Music
Ray Perlner
Relyt R
Ron Sword
Stephen Weigel
Randy Wells
Randy Winchester
Fitzgerald Lee

Books / literature

  • Sword, Ron. "Icosihenaphonic Scales for Guitar". IAAA Press. 1st ed: July 2009.