42edo: Difference between revisions
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→21st century: Stephen Weigel's ''Ĥ̶̩̠̐Ä̶̝͙́̓Ȑ̸̢͒K̷̥̩͌͑!̵̙͆̄ THE BIBLICALLY ACCURATE ANGELS SING!'' (2025): Add live performance in Munich, Germany (2026) |
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=== Odd harmonics === | === Odd harmonics === | ||
While not an accurate tuning on the full [[7-limit]], 42edo does an excellent job on the 2.9.15.7.33.39 [[k*N subgroups|2*42 subgroup]], having the same tuning on it as does [[84edo]]. On this subgroup 42 has the same [[comma]]s as 84. | While not an accurate tuning on the full [[7-limit]], 42edo does an excellent job on the 2.9.15.7.33.39 [[k*N subgroups|2*42 subgroup]], having the same tuning on it as does [[84edo]]. On this subgroup 42 has the same [[comma]]s as 84. | ||
{{Harmonics in equal|42}} | {{Harmonics in equal|42}} | ||
=== Subsets and supersets === | === Subsets and supersets === | ||
| Line 79: | Line 22: | ||
! # | ! # | ||
! Cents | ! Cents | ||
! colspan="3" |[[Ups and | ! colspan="3" | [[Ups and downs notation]] | ||
|- | |- | ||
| 0 | | 0 | ||
| 0. | | 0.0 | ||
| P1 | | P1 | ||
| perfect unison | | perfect unison | ||
| Line 88: | Line 31: | ||
|- | |- | ||
| 1 | | 1 | ||
| 28. | | 28.6 | ||
| ^1, m2 | | ^1, m2 | ||
| up unison, minor 2nd | | up unison, minor 2nd | ||
| Line 94: | Line 37: | ||
|- | |- | ||
| 2 | | 2 | ||
| 57. | | 57.1 | ||
| ^^1, ^m2 | | ^^1, ^m2 | ||
| dup 1sn, upminor 2nd | | dup 1sn, upminor 2nd | ||
| Line 100: | Line 43: | ||
|- | |- | ||
| 3 | | 3 | ||
| 85. | | 85.7 | ||
| ^^m2 | | ^^m2 | ||
| dupminor 2nd | | dupminor 2nd | ||
| Line 106: | Line 49: | ||
|- | |- | ||
| 4 | | 4 | ||
| 114. | | 114.3 | ||
| ^<sup>3</sup>m | | ^<sup>3</sup>m | ||
| trupminor 2nd | | trupminor 2nd | ||
| Line 112: | Line 55: | ||
|- | |- | ||
| 5 | | 5 | ||
| 143. | | 143.9 | ||
| v<sup>3</sup>M | | v<sup>3</sup>M | ||
| trudmajor 2nd | | trudmajor 2nd | ||
| Line 118: | Line 61: | ||
|- | |- | ||
| 6 | | 6 | ||
| 171. | | 171.4 | ||
| vvM2 | | vvM2 | ||
| dudmajor 2nd | | dudmajor 2nd | ||
| Line 124: | Line 67: | ||
|- | |- | ||
| 7 | | 7 | ||
| 200. | | 200.0 | ||
| vM2 | | vM2 | ||
| downmajor 2nd | | downmajor 2nd | ||
| Line 130: | Line 73: | ||
|- | |- | ||
| 8 | | 8 | ||
| 228. | | 228.6 | ||
| M2 | | M2 | ||
| major 2nd | | major 2nd | ||
| Line 136: | Line 79: | ||
|- | |- | ||
| 9 | | 9 | ||
| 257. | | 257.1 | ||
| m3 | | m3 | ||
| minor 3rd | | minor 3rd | ||
| Line 142: | Line 85: | ||
|- | |- | ||
| 10 | | 10 | ||
| 285. | | 285.7 | ||
| ^m3 | | ^m3 | ||
| upminor 3rd | | upminor 3rd | ||
| Line 148: | Line 91: | ||
|- | |- | ||
| 11 | | 11 | ||
| 314. | | 314.3 | ||
| ^^m3 | | ^^m3 | ||
| dupminor 3rd | | dupminor 3rd | ||
| Line 154: | Line 97: | ||
|- | |- | ||
| 12 | | 12 | ||
| 342. | | 342.9 | ||
| ^<sup>3</sup>m3 | | ^<sup>3</sup>m3 | ||
| trupminor 3rd | | trupminor 3rd | ||
| Line 160: | Line 103: | ||
|- | |- | ||
| 13 | | 13 | ||
| 371. | | 371.4 | ||
| v<sup>3</sup>M3 | | v<sup>3</sup>M3 | ||
| trudmajor 3rd | | trudmajor 3rd | ||
| Line 166: | Line 109: | ||
|- | |- | ||
| 14 | | 14 | ||
| 400. | | 400.0 | ||
| vvM3 | | vvM3 | ||
| dudmajor 3rd | | dudmajor 3rd | ||
| Line 172: | Line 115: | ||
|- | |- | ||
| 15 | | 15 | ||
| 428. | | 428.6 | ||
| vM3 | | vM3 | ||
| downmajor 3rd | | downmajor 3rd | ||
| Line 178: | Line 121: | ||
|- | |- | ||
| 16 | | 16 | ||
| 457. | | 457.1 | ||
| M3, v4 | | M3, v4 | ||
| major 3rd, down 4th | | major 3rd, down 4th | ||
| Line 184: | Line 127: | ||
|- | |- | ||
| 17 | | 17 | ||
| 485. | | 485.7 | ||
| P4 | | P4 | ||
| perfect 4th | | perfect 4th | ||
| Line 190: | Line 133: | ||
|- | |- | ||
| 18 | | 18 | ||
| 514. | | 514.3 | ||
| ^4 | | ^4 | ||
| up 4th | | up 4th | ||
| Line 196: | Line 139: | ||
|- | |- | ||
| 19 | | 19 | ||
| 543. | | 543.9 | ||
| ^^4 | | ^^4 | ||
| dup 4th | | dup 4th | ||
| Line 202: | Line 145: | ||
|- | |- | ||
| 20 | | 20 | ||
| 571. | | 571.4 | ||
| ^<sup>3</sup>4, ^^d5 | | ^<sup>3</sup>4, ^^d5 | ||
| trup 4th, dupdim 5th | | trup 4th, dupdim 5th | ||
| Line 208: | Line 151: | ||
|- | |- | ||
| 21 | | 21 | ||
| 600. | | 600.0 | ||
| v<sup>3</sup>A4, ^<sup>3</sup>d5 | | v<sup>3</sup>A4, ^<sup>3</sup>d5 | ||
| trudaug 4th, trupdim 5th | | trudaug 4th, trupdim 5th | ||
| Line 214: | Line 157: | ||
|- | |- | ||
| 22 | | 22 | ||
| 628. | | 628.6 | ||
| vvA4, v<sup>3</sup>5 | | vvA4, v<sup>3</sup>5 | ||
| dudaug 4th, trud 5th | | dudaug 4th, trud 5th | ||
| Line 220: | Line 163: | ||
|- | |- | ||
| 23 | | 23 | ||
| 657. | | 657.1 | ||
| vv5 | | vv5 | ||
| dud 5th | | dud 5th | ||
| Line 226: | Line 169: | ||
|- | |- | ||
| 24 | | 24 | ||
| 685. | | 685.7 | ||
| v5 | | v5 | ||
| down 5th | | down 5th | ||
| Line 232: | Line 175: | ||
|- | |- | ||
| 25 | | 25 | ||
| 714. | | 714.3 | ||
| P5 | | P5 | ||
| perfect 5th | | perfect 5th | ||
| Line 238: | Line 181: | ||
|- | |- | ||
| 26 | | 26 | ||
| 742. | | 742.9 | ||
| ^5, m6 | | ^5, m6 | ||
| up 5th, minor 6th | | up 5th, minor 6th | ||
| Line 244: | Line 187: | ||
|- | |- | ||
| 27 | | 27 | ||
| 771. | | 771.4 | ||
| ^m6 | | ^m6 | ||
| upminor 6th | | upminor 6th | ||
| Line 250: | Line 193: | ||
|- | |- | ||
| 28 | | 28 | ||
| 800. | | 800.0 | ||
| ^^m6 | | ^^m6 | ||
| dupminor 6th | | dupminor 6th | ||
| Line 256: | Line 199: | ||
|- | |- | ||
| 29 | | 29 | ||
| 828. | | 828.6 | ||
| ^<sup>3</sup>m6 | | ^<sup>3</sup>m6 | ||
| trupminor 6th | | trupminor 6th | ||
| Line 262: | Line 205: | ||
|- | |- | ||
| 30 | | 30 | ||
| 857. | | 857.1 | ||
| v<sup>3</sup>M6 | | v<sup>3</sup>M6 | ||
| trudmajor 6th | | trudmajor 6th | ||
| Line 268: | Line 211: | ||
|- | |- | ||
| 31 | | 31 | ||
| 885. | | 885.7 | ||
| vvM6 | | vvM6 | ||
| dudmajor 6th | | dudmajor 6th | ||
| Line 274: | Line 217: | ||
|- | |- | ||
| 32 | | 32 | ||
| 914. | | 914.3 | ||
| vM6 | | vM6 | ||
| downmajor 6th | | downmajor 6th | ||
| Line 280: | Line 223: | ||
|- | |- | ||
| 33 | | 33 | ||
| 942. | | 942.9 | ||
| M6 | | M6 | ||
| major 6th | | major 6th | ||
| Line 286: | Line 229: | ||
|- | |- | ||
| 34 | | 34 | ||
| 971. | | 971.4 | ||
| m7 | | m7 | ||
| minor 7th | | minor 7th | ||
| Line 292: | Line 235: | ||
|- | |- | ||
| 35 | | 35 | ||
| 1000. | | 1000.0 | ||
| ^m7 | | ^m7 | ||
| upminor 7th | | upminor 7th | ||
| Line 298: | Line 241: | ||
|- | |- | ||
| 36 | | 36 | ||
| 1028. | | 1028.6 | ||
| ^^m7 | | ^^m7 | ||
| dupminor 7th | | dupminor 7th | ||
| Line 304: | Line 247: | ||
|- | |- | ||
| 37 | | 37 | ||
| 1057. | | 1057.1 | ||
| ^<sup>3</sup>m7 | | ^<sup>3</sup>m7 | ||
| trupminor 7th | | trupminor 7th | ||
| Line 310: | Line 253: | ||
|- | |- | ||
| 38 | | 38 | ||
| 1085. | | 1085.7 | ||
| v<sup>3</sup>M7 | | v<sup>3</sup>M7 | ||
| trudmajor 7th | | trudmajor 7th | ||
| Line 316: | Line 259: | ||
|- | |- | ||
| 39 | | 39 | ||
| 1114. | | 1114.3 | ||
| vvM7 | | vvM7 | ||
| dudmajor 7th | | dudmajor 7th | ||
| Line 322: | Line 265: | ||
|- | |- | ||
| 40 | | 40 | ||
| 1142. | | 1142.9 | ||
| vM7 | | vM7 | ||
| downmajor 7th | | downmajor 7th | ||
| Line 328: | Line 271: | ||
|- | |- | ||
| 41 | | 41 | ||
| 1171. | | 1171.4 | ||
| M7, v8 | | M7, v8 | ||
| major 7th, down 8ve | | major 7th, down 8ve | ||
| Line 334: | Line 277: | ||
|- | |- | ||
| 42 | | 42 | ||
| 1200. | | 1200.0 | ||
| P8 | | P8 | ||
| perfect 8ve | | perfect 8ve | ||
| Line 340: | Line 283: | ||
|} | |} | ||
Chords can be named using ups and downs as C upminor, D downmajor seven, etc. See [[Ups and | Chords can be named using ups and downs as C upminor, D downmajor seven, etc. See [[Ups and downs notation #Chords and chord progressions]]. | ||
== Notation == | == Notation == | ||
| Line 346: | Line 289: | ||
Assuming the natural notes form a [[chain of fifths]], the major 2nd is 8 edosteps and the minor 2nd is only one. The naturals create a [[5edo]]-like scale, with two of the notes inflected by a [[comma]]-sized edostep: | Assuming the natural notes form a [[chain of fifths]], the major 2nd is 8 edosteps and the minor 2nd is only one. The naturals create a [[5edo]]-like scale, with two of the notes inflected by a [[comma]]-sized edostep: | ||
D | D * * * * * * * E F * * * * * * * G * * * * * * * A * * * * * * * B C * * * * * * * D | ||
D♯ is next to E. The notation requires ups and downs with three arrows, and if chords are to be spelled correctly four or more arrows may be required in certain cases. For example, a {{dash|1/1, 5/4, 3/2, 9/5|med}} chord with a root on the | D♯ is next to E. The notation requires ups and downs with three arrows, and if chords are to be spelled correctly four or more arrows may be required in certain cases. For example, a {{dash|1/1, 5/4, 3/2, 9/5|med}} chord with a root on the edostep midway between G and A would be written either as {{dash|v<sup>3</sup>G♯–v<sup>5</sup>B♯, v<sup>3</sup>D♯, vF♯|med}} or as {{dash|^<sup>3</sup>A♭, ^C, ^<sup>3</sup>E♭, ^<sup>5</sup>G♭}}. This is a dud dup-seven chord, written either as v<sup>3</sup>G♯vv,^^7 or as ^<sup>3</sup>A♭vv,^^7. | ||
In this table, dup is equivalent to quidsharp, trup is equivalent to quudsharp, trudsharp is equivalent to quup, dudsharp is equivalent to quip, etc. | |||
{{Ups and downs sharpness}} | |||
Alternatively, sharps and flats with arrows borrowed from [[Helmholtz–Ellis notation]] can be used: | Alternatively, sharps and flats with arrows borrowed from [[Helmholtz–Ellis notation]] can be used: | ||
| Line 356: | Line 302: | ||
=== Sagittal notation === | === Sagittal notation === | ||
==== Best fifth notation ==== | ==== Best fifth notation ==== | ||
This notation uses the same sagittal sequence as [[35edo#Second-best fifth notation|35b]]. | This notation uses the same sagittal sequence as [[35edo #Second-best fifth notation|35b]]. | ||
===== Evo flavor ===== | ===== Evo flavor ===== | ||
| Line 379: | Line 325: | ||
==== Second-best fifth notation ==== | ==== Second-best fifth notation ==== | ||
This notation uses the same sagittal sequence as [[47edo#Sagittal notation| | This notation uses the same sagittal sequence as [[47edo#Sagittal notation|47edo]], and is a superset of the notations for edos [[21edo #Sagittal notation|21]], [[14edo #Sagittal notation|14]], and [[7edo #Sagittal notation|7]]. | ||
<imagemap> | <imagemap> | ||
| Line 389: | Line 335: | ||
default [[File:42b_Sagittal.svg]] | default [[File:42b_Sagittal.svg]] | ||
</imagemap> | </imagemap> | ||
== Approximation to JI == | |||
{{Q-odd-limit intervals}} | |||
== Regular temperament properties == | |||
{| class="wikitable center-4 center-5 center-6" | |||
|- | |||
! rowspan="2" | [[Subgroup]] | |||
! rowspan="2" | [[Comma list]] | |||
! rowspan="2" | [[Mapping]] | |||
! rowspan="2" | Optimal<br>8ve stretch (¢) | |||
! colspan="2" | Tuning error | |||
|- | |||
! [[TE error|Absolute]] (¢) | |||
! [[TE simple badness|Relative]] (%) | |||
|- | |||
| 2.3 | |||
| {{Monzo| 67 -42 }} | |||
| {{Mapping| 42 67 }} | |||
| −3.89 | |||
| 3.88 | |||
| 13.57 | |||
|- | |||
| 2.3.5 | |||
| 128/125, 5000000/4782969 | |||
| {{Mapping| 42 67 98 }} | |||
| −4.55 | |||
| 3.30 | |||
| 11.55 | |||
|- | |||
| 2.3.5.7 | |||
| 64/63, 126/125, 6860/6561 | |||
| {{Mapping| 42 67 98 118 }} | |||
| −3.65 | |||
| 3.26 | |||
| 11.42 | |||
|} | |||
== Octave stretch or compression == | |||
42edo’s inaccurate 3rd and 5th harmonics can be improved through [[stretched and compressed tuning|stretching or compressing]] octaves. Both approaches work about equally well but in opposite directions, giving two quite different flavors of tuning to play with. | |||
* Good stretched options: [[ed6|108ed6]], [[ed5|97ed5]], [[zpi|189zpi]], [[ed12|150ed12]] | |||
* Good compressed options: [[ed7|118ed7]], [[ed12|151ed12]], [[ed6|109ed6]], [[zpi|191zpi]] | |||
== Scales == | == Scales == | ||
; [[MOS scale]]s | |||
{{main|List of MOS scales in 42edo}} | {{main|List of MOS scales in 42edo}} | ||
* Eugene/Tritikleismic[9]: '''3 8 3 3 8 3 3 8 3''' | * Eugene/Tritikleismic[9]: '''3 8 3 3 8 3 3 8 3''' | ||
* Eugene/Tritikleismic[15]: '''3 3 2 3 3 3 3 2 3 3 3 3 2 3 3''' | * Eugene/Tritikleismic[15]: '''3 3 2 3 3 3 3 2 3 3 3 3 2 3 3''' | ||
| Line 401: | Line 390: | ||
* Seville/Sevond[14] 2nd mode: '''5 1 5 1 5 1 5 1 5 1 5 1 5 1''' | * Seville/Sevond[14] 2nd mode: '''5 1 5 1 5 1 5 1 5 1 5 1 5 1''' | ||
* Seville/Sevond[21]: '''1 4 1 1 4 1 1 4 1 1 4 1 1 4 1 1 4 1 1 4''' | * Seville/Sevond[21]: '''1 4 1 1 4 1 1 4 1 1 4 1 1 4 1 1 4 1 1 4''' | ||
; Subsets of MOS scales | ; Subsets of MOS scales | ||
| Line 412: | Line 402: | ||
** Undecimal lydian-aeolian pentatonic: '''8 14 3 11 6''' | ** Undecimal lydian-aeolian pentatonic: '''8 14 3 11 6''' | ||
** Yokai pentatonic: '''3 14 8 3 14''' | ** Yokai pentatonic: '''3 14 8 3 14''' | ||
; Approximations of [[gamelan]] scales: | |||
* 5-tone pelog: 4 5 15 3 15 | |||
* 7-tone pelog: 4 5 9 6 3 10 5 | |||
* 5-tone slendro: 8 9 8 9 8 | |||
; Other scales | |||
* 12-tone 6&7edo scale: 6 1 5 2 4 3 3 4 2 5 1 6 | |||
== Instruments == | == Instruments == | ||
=== Lumatone === | |||
{{main|Lumatone mapping for 42edo}} | {{main|Lumatone mapping for 42edo}} | ||
=== Skip fretting === | |||
'''[[Skip fretting]] system 42 3 11''': One way to play [[42edo]] on a [[14edo]] guitar is to tune the strings 11\42, or approximately a [[just]] 6/5, apart. All examples on this page are for 7-string guitar. | |||
; Prime intervals | |||
1/1: string 2 open | |||
2/1: string 5 fret 3 | |||
3/2: string 4 fret 1 and string 7 fret 4 | |||
5/4: string 3 fret 1 | |||
7/4: string 1 fret 1 and string 4 fret 4 | |||
11/8: string 7 fret 2 | |||
13/8: string 3 fret 6 | |||
17/16: string 1 fret 5 | |||
19/16: string 1 fret 7 | |||
23/16: string 4 open and string 7 fret 3 | |||
29/16: string 5 fret 1 | |||
31/16: string 1 fret 3 and string 4 fret 6 | |||
; Chords | |||
Minor 7th: 100123X | |||
== Music == | == Music == | ||
| Line 429: | Line 458: | ||
=== 21st century === | === 21st century === | ||
; [[Bryan Deister]] | ; [[Bryan Deister]] | ||
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJw8gZyNPjg ''improv 42edo''] (2023) | |||
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ljaSpsQP2qc ''Improvisation in 42edo''] (2023), transcribed by [[Stephen Weigel]] (2024) | * [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ljaSpsQP2qc ''Improvisation in 42edo''] (2023), transcribed by [[Stephen Weigel]] (2024) | ||
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cL6CY3U9mHM ''42edo groove''] (2025) | |||
* ''A Hunger Awakes - 42edo'' (2026) | |||
** [https://www.youtube.com/shorts/B90JT_SxSSE <nowiki>[short]</nowiki>] (Lumatone view) | |||
** [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VwHqWffglj4 <nowiki>[full version]</nowiki>] (music video with stop-motion by [[Jelly Eyes]]) | |||
* ''Waltz in 42edo'' (2026) | |||
** [https://www.youtube.com/shorts/D_YgzRJFg8I <nowiki>[short]</nowiki>] (Lumatone view) | |||
** [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QyglWQ_0bIk <nowiki>[full version]</nowiki>] | |||
; [[James Kukula]] | ; [[James Kukula]] | ||
| Line 443: | Line 480: | ||
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ORy7nv6SnN8 ''Glory of Them''] (2024) | * [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ORy7nv6SnN8 ''Glory of Them''] (2024) | ||
[[ | ; [[Stephen Weigel]] | ||
[[Category:Todo | * [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tLmaQK10aYM ''Ĥ̶̩̠̐Ä̶̝͙́̓Ȑ̸̢͒K̷̥̩͌͑!̵̙͆̄ THE BIBLICALLY ACCURATE ANGELS SING!''] (2025; mostly in 42edo, but also some in 40edo) | ||
** [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NE77rwCsGHw live performance of the above in Munich, Germany] (2026) | |||
[[Category:Augmented]] | |||
{{Todo|review|add rank 2 temperaments table}} | |||
Latest revision as of 03:26, 31 May 2026
| ← 41edo | 42edo | 43edo → |
42 equal divisions of the octave (abbreviated 42edo or 42ed2), also called 42-tone equal temperament (42tet) or 42 equal temperament (42et) when viewed under a regular temperament perspective, is the tuning system that divides the octave into 42 equal parts of about 28.6 ¢ each. Each step represents a frequency ratio of 21/42, or the 42nd root of 2.
Theory
42edo has a patent val fifth (the step of which is not from 7edo, this being a first for edos of the form 7n) and a third both over 12 cents sharp, using the same 400-cent interval to represent 5/4 as does 12edo, which means it tempers out 128/125. In the 7-limit, it tempers out 64/63 and 126/125, making it a tuning supporting the augene temperament.
42edo is on the optimal ET sequence of the eugene, joan, lemba, neutron, qeema, seville, sevond, skateboard, tritikleismic and vines temperaments.
42edo is a diatonic edo because its 5th falls between 4\7 = 686 ¢ and 3\5 = 720 ¢. 42edo is one of the most difficult diatonic edos to notate, because no other diatonic edo's fifth is as sharp (see 47edo for the opposite extreme).
Odd harmonics
While not an accurate tuning on the full 7-limit, 42edo does an excellent job on the 2.9.15.7.33.39 2*42 subgroup, having the same tuning on it as does 84edo. On this subgroup 42 has the same commas as 84.
| Harmonic | 3 | 5 | 7 | 9 | 11 | 13 | 15 | 17 | 19 | 21 | 23 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Error | Absolute (¢) | +12.3 | +13.7 | +2.6 | -3.9 | -8.5 | -12.0 | -2.6 | +9.3 | -11.8 | -13.6 | +0.3 |
| Relative (%) | +43.2 | +47.9 | +9.1 | -13.7 | -29.6 | -41.8 | -8.9 | +32.7 | -41.3 | -47.7 | +1.0 | |
| Steps (reduced) |
67 (25) |
98 (14) |
118 (34) |
133 (7) |
145 (19) |
155 (29) |
164 (38) |
172 (4) |
178 (10) |
184 (16) |
190 (22) | |
Subsets and supersets
Since 42 factors into 2 × 3 × 7, 42edo contains subset edos 2, 3, 6, 7, 14, and 21.
Intervals
| # | Cents | Ups and downs notation | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0.0 | P1 | perfect unison | D |
| 1 | 28.6 | ^1, m2 | up unison, minor 2nd | ^D, Eb |
| 2 | 57.1 | ^^1, ^m2 | dup 1sn, upminor 2nd | ^^D, ^Eb |
| 3 | 85.7 | ^^m2 | dupminor 2nd | ^^Eb |
| 4 | 114.3 | ^3m | trupminor 2nd | ^3Eb |
| 5 | 143.9 | v3M | trudmajor 2nd | v3E |
| 6 | 171.4 | vvM2 | dudmajor 2nd | vvE |
| 7 | 200.0 | vM2 | downmajor 2nd | vE |
| 8 | 228.6 | M2 | major 2nd | E |
| 9 | 257.1 | m3 | minor 3rd | F |
| 10 | 285.7 | ^m3 | upminor 3rd | ^F |
| 11 | 314.3 | ^^m3 | dupminor 3rd | ^^F |
| 12 | 342.9 | ^3m3 | trupminor 3rd | ^3F |
| 13 | 371.4 | v3M3 | trudmajor 3rd | v3F# |
| 14 | 400.0 | vvM3 | dudmajor 3rd | vvF# |
| 15 | 428.6 | vM3 | downmajor 3rd | vF# |
| 16 | 457.1 | M3, v4 | major 3rd, down 4th | F#, vG |
| 17 | 485.7 | P4 | perfect 4th | G |
| 18 | 514.3 | ^4 | up 4th | ^G |
| 19 | 543.9 | ^^4 | dup 4th | ^^G |
| 20 | 571.4 | ^34, ^^d5 | trup 4th, dupdim 5th | ^3G, ^^Ab |
| 21 | 600.0 | v3A4, ^3d5 | trudaug 4th, trupdim 5th | v3G#, ^3Ab |
| 22 | 628.6 | vvA4, v35 | dudaug 4th, trud 5th | vvG#, v3A |
| 23 | 657.1 | vv5 | dud 5th | vvA |
| 24 | 685.7 | v5 | down 5th | vA |
| 25 | 714.3 | P5 | perfect 5th | A |
| 26 | 742.9 | ^5, m6 | up 5th, minor 6th | ^A, Bb |
| 27 | 771.4 | ^m6 | upminor 6th | ^Bb |
| 28 | 800.0 | ^^m6 | dupminor 6th | ^^Bb |
| 29 | 828.6 | ^3m6 | trupminor 6th | ^3Bb |
| 30 | 857.1 | v3M6 | trudmajor 6th | v3B |
| 31 | 885.7 | vvM6 | dudmajor 6th | vvB |
| 32 | 914.3 | vM6 | downmajor 6th | vB |
| 33 | 942.9 | M6 | major 6th | B |
| 34 | 971.4 | m7 | minor 7th | C |
| 35 | 1000.0 | ^m7 | upminor 7th | ^C |
| 36 | 1028.6 | ^^m7 | dupminor 7th | ^^C |
| 37 | 1057.1 | ^3m7 | trupminor 7th | ^3C |
| 38 | 1085.7 | v3M7 | trudmajor 7th | v3C# |
| 39 | 1114.3 | vvM7 | dudmajor 7th | vvC# |
| 40 | 1142.9 | vM7 | downmajor 7th | vC# |
| 41 | 1171.4 | M7, v8 | major 7th, down 8ve | C#, vD |
| 42 | 1200.0 | P8 | perfect 8ve | D |
Chords can be named using ups and downs as C upminor, D downmajor seven, etc. See Ups and downs notation #Chords and chord progressions.
Notation
Ups and downs notation
Assuming the natural notes form a chain of fifths, the major 2nd is 8 edosteps and the minor 2nd is only one. The naturals create a 5edo-like scale, with two of the notes inflected by a comma-sized edostep:
D * * * * * * * E F * * * * * * * G * * * * * * * A * * * * * * * B C * * * * * * * D
D♯ is next to E. The notation requires ups and downs with three arrows, and if chords are to be spelled correctly four or more arrows may be required in certain cases. For example, a 1/1 – 5/4 – 3/2 – 9/5 chord with a root on the edostep midway between G and A would be written either as v3G♯–v5B♯ – v3D♯ – vF♯ or as ^3A♭ – ^C – ^3E♭ – ^5G♭. This is a dud dup-seven chord, written either as v3G♯vv,^^7 or as ^3A♭vv,^^7.
In this table, dup is equivalent to quidsharp, trup is equivalent to quudsharp, trudsharp is equivalent to quup, dudsharp is equivalent to quip, etc.
Alternatively, sharps and flats with arrows borrowed from Helmholtz–Ellis notation can be used:
| Step offset | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sharp symbol | |
|||||||||||||||||
| Flat symbol |
Sagittal notation
Best fifth notation
This notation uses the same sagittal sequence as 35b.
Evo flavor

Revo flavor

Second-best fifth notation
This notation uses the same sagittal sequence as 47edo, and is a superset of the notations for edos 21, 14, and 7.

Approximation to JI
The following tables show how 15-odd-limit intervals are represented in 42edo. Prime harmonics are in bold; inconsistent intervals are in italics.
| Interval and complement | Error (abs, ¢) | Error (rel, %) |
|---|---|---|
| 1/1, 2/1 | 0.000 | 0.0 |
| 5/3, 6/5 | 1.356 | 4.7 |
| 15/8, 16/15 | 2.554 | 8.9 |
| 7/4, 8/7 | 2.603 | 9.1 |
| 13/10, 20/13 | 2.929 | 10.3 |
| 13/11, 22/13 | 3.495 | 12.2 |
| 9/8, 16/9 | 3.910 | 13.7 |
| 13/12, 24/13 | 4.284 | 15.0 |
| 11/9, 18/11 | 4.551 | 15.9 |
| 15/14, 28/15 | 5.157 | 18.0 |
| 15/11, 22/15 | 5.906 | 20.7 |
| 11/10, 20/11 | 6.424 | 22.5 |
| 9/7, 14/9 | 6.513 | 22.8 |
| 11/6, 12/11 | 7.780 | 27.2 |
| 13/9, 18/13 | 8.046 | 28.2 |
| 11/8, 16/11 | 8.461 | 29.6 |
| 15/13, 26/15 | 9.402 | 32.9 |
| 7/6, 12/7 | 9.728 | 34.0 |
| 9/5, 10/9 | 10.975 | 38.4 |
| 11/7, 14/11 | 11.063 | 38.7 |
| 7/5, 10/7 | 11.084 | 38.8 |
| 13/8, 16/13 | 11.956 | 41.8 |
| 3/2, 4/3 | 12.331 | 43.2 |
| 5/4, 8/5 | 13.686 | 47.9 |
| 13/7, 14/13 | 14.013 | 49.0 |
| Interval and complement | Error (abs, ¢) | Error (rel, %) |
|---|---|---|
| 1/1, 2/1 | 0.000 | 0.0 |
| 5/3, 6/5 | 1.356 | 4.7 |
| 7/4, 8/7 | 2.603 | 9.1 |
| 13/11, 22/13 | 3.495 | 12.2 |
| 11/8, 16/11 | 8.461 | 29.6 |
| 7/6, 12/7 | 9.728 | 34.0 |
| 9/5, 10/9 | 10.975 | 38.4 |
| 11/7, 14/11 | 11.063 | 38.7 |
| 7/5, 10/7 | 11.084 | 38.8 |
| 13/8, 16/13 | 11.956 | 41.8 |
| 3/2, 4/3 | 12.331 | 43.2 |
| 5/4, 8/5 | 13.686 | 47.9 |
| 13/7, 14/13 | 14.559 | 51.0 |
| 11/6, 12/11 | 20.792 | 72.8 |
| 9/7, 14/9 | 22.059 | 77.2 |
| 11/10, 20/11 | 22.147 | 77.5 |
| 15/14, 28/15 | 23.414 | 82.0 |
| 13/12, 24/13 | 24.287 | 85.0 |
| 9/8, 16/9 | 24.661 | 86.3 |
| 13/10, 20/13 | 25.643 | 89.7 |
| 15/8, 16/15 | 26.017 | 91.1 |
| 11/9, 18/11 | 33.122 | 115.9 |
| 15/11, 22/15 | 34.478 | 120.7 |
| 13/9, 18/13 | 36.618 | 128.2 |
| 15/13, 26/15 | 37.973 | 132.9 |
Regular temperament properties
| Subgroup | Comma list | Mapping | Optimal 8ve stretch (¢) |
Tuning error | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Absolute (¢) | Relative (%) | ||||
| 2.3 | [67 -42⟩ | [⟨42 67]] | −3.89 | 3.88 | 13.57 |
| 2.3.5 | 128/125, 5000000/4782969 | [⟨42 67 98]] | −4.55 | 3.30 | 11.55 |
| 2.3.5.7 | 64/63, 126/125, 6860/6561 | [⟨42 67 98 118]] | −3.65 | 3.26 | 11.42 |
Octave stretch or compression
42edo’s inaccurate 3rd and 5th harmonics can be improved through stretching or compressing octaves. Both approaches work about equally well but in opposite directions, giving two quite different flavors of tuning to play with.
- Good stretched options: 108ed6, 97ed5, 189zpi, 150ed12
- Good compressed options: 118ed7, 151ed12, 109ed6, 191zpi
Scales
- Eugene/Tritikleismic[9]: 3 8 3 3 8 3 3 8 3
- Eugene/Tritikleismic[15]: 3 3 2 3 3 3 3 2 3 3 3 3 2 3 3
- Lemba[16]: 3 2 3 2 3 3 2 3 3 2 3 2 3 3 2 3
- Qeema/Skateboard[15]: 2 5 2 2 2 5 2 2 2 5 2 2 2 5 2
- Qeema/Skateboard[19]: 2 2 3 2 2 2 2 3 2 2 2 3 2 2 2 2 3 2 2
- Seville/Sevond[14] 1st mode: 1 5 1 5 1 5 1 5 1 5 1 5 1 5
- Seville/Sevond[14] 2nd mode: 5 1 5 1 5 1 5 1 5 1 5 1 5 1
- Seville/Sevond[21]: 1 4 1 1 4 1 1 4 1 1 4 1 1 4 1 1 4 1 1 4
- Subsets of MOS scales
(Names used are idiosyncratic.)
- Eugene/Tritikleismic[9]
- Groovy aeolian pentatonic: 11 6 8 3 14
- Otonal mixolydian pentatonic: 14 3 8 11 6
- Pseudo-equipentatonic: 11 6 8 6 11
- Septimal melodic minor pentatonic: 8 3 14 14 3
- Septimal Picardy pentatonic: 8 6 11 3 14
- Undecimal lydian-aeolian pentatonic: 8 14 3 11 6
- Yokai pentatonic: 3 14 8 3 14
- Approximations of gamelan scales
- 5-tone pelog: 4 5 15 3 15
- 7-tone pelog: 4 5 9 6 3 10 5
- 5-tone slendro: 8 9 8 9 8
- Other scales
- 12-tone 6&7edo scale: 6 1 5 2 4 3 3 4 2 5 1 6
Instruments
Lumatone
Skip fretting
Skip fretting system 42 3 11: One way to play 42edo on a 14edo guitar is to tune the strings 11\42, or approximately a just 6/5, apart. All examples on this page are for 7-string guitar.
- Prime intervals
1/1: string 2 open
2/1: string 5 fret 3
3/2: string 4 fret 1 and string 7 fret 4
5/4: string 3 fret 1
7/4: string 1 fret 1 and string 4 fret 4
11/8: string 7 fret 2
13/8: string 3 fret 6
17/16: string 1 fret 5
19/16: string 1 fret 7
23/16: string 4 open and string 7 fret 3
29/16: string 5 fret 1
31/16: string 1 fret 3 and string 4 fret 6
- Chords
Minor 7th: 100123X
Music
Modern renderings
- "Ricercar a 3" from The Musical Offering, BWV 1079 (1747) – rendered by Claudi Meneghin (2024)
- White Christmas - 42edo reimagining by Todd Harrop (2024)
21st century
- improv 42edo (2023)
- Improvisation in 42edo (2023), transcribed by Stephen Weigel (2024)
- 42edo groove (2025)
- A Hunger Awakes - 42edo (2026)
- [short] (Lumatone view)
- [full version] (music video with stop-motion by Jelly Eyes)
- Waltz in 42edo (2026)
- [short] (Lumatone view)
- [full version]
- Circulating and Traversing (2024) - see the composer’s notes
- Through the Dark (2024) - uses mostly Augene[15] with some chromaticism
- Glory of Them (2024)
- Ĥ̶̩̠̐Ä̶̝͙́̓Ȑ̸̢͒K̷̥̩͌͑!̵̙͆̄ THE BIBLICALLY ACCURATE ANGELS SING! (2025; mostly in 42edo, but also some in 40edo)

































