Scale naming: Difference between revisions

Created page with "'''Scale naming''' is the process of choosing or determining the name of a scale. A scale may have one or more common names, either inherited from historical usage or coin..."
 
m Tempered scales: Add redirect-distinguish hatnote
 
(3 intermediate revisions by the same user not shown)
Line 2: Line 2:


== Tempered scales ==
== Tempered scales ==
{{Redirect-distinguish|Bracket notation|Extended bra-ket notation}}
Scales generated from [[rank-2 temperament]]s are often named systematically using bracket notation (not to be confused with the [[extended bra-ket notation]]): ''temperament''[''size'']. For example, the 7-tone scale built by repeatedly stacking generators of [[meantone]] temperament is named "meantone[7]". The stack of generators must be contiguous (no skips or gaps), otherwise the name would become ambiguous. This notation is valid even if the size is not a MOS size; therefore, "meantone[8]" is an equally valid example. Since bracket notation does not carry tuning information, the tuning method is often prefixed in order to describe a concrete tempered scale, including superset edos (e.g. "31edo meantone[7]") and regular temperament tuning techniques (e.g. "[[CTE]] meantone[7]", "1/4-comma meantone[7]").
Scales generated from [[rank-2 temperament]]s are often named systematically using bracket notation (not to be confused with the [[extended bra-ket notation]]): ''temperament''[''size'']. For example, the 7-tone scale built by repeatedly stacking generators of [[meantone]] temperament is named "meantone[7]". The stack of generators must be contiguous (no skips or gaps), otherwise the name would become ambiguous. This notation is valid even if the size is not a MOS size; therefore, "meantone[8]" is an equally valid example. Since bracket notation does not carry tuning information, the tuning method is often prefixed in order to describe a concrete tempered scale, including superset edos (e.g. "31edo meantone[7]") and regular temperament tuning techniques (e.g. "[[CTE]] meantone[7]", "1/4-comma meantone[7]").


Regular temperaments can also be described systematically using [[temperament merging]]. For example, 7&12[7] is equivalent to meantone[7]. Temperament merging expressions are not unique, so 5&7[7] is another equivalent to meantone[7].
Regular temperaments can also be described systematically using [[temperament merging]]. For example, 7&12[7] is equivalent to meantone[7]. Temperament merging expressions are not unique, so 5&7[7] is another equivalent to meantone[7].


== MOS naming ==
== MOS scales ==
[[MOS scale]]s can be identified systematically by their [[scale signature]], i.e. the number of large and small steps. For example, the diatonic scale's signature is [[5L 2s]]. Since scale signature does not carry tuning information, the tuning method is often prefixed in order to describe a concrete MOS scale, including superset edos (e.g. "31edo 5L 2s") and [[step ratio]] (e.g. "5:3 5L 2s").
[[MOS scale]]s can be identified systematically by their [[scale signature]], i.e. the number of large and small steps. For example, the diatonic scale's signature is [[5L 2s]]. Since scale signature does not carry tuning information, the tuning method is often prefixed in order to describe a concrete MOS scale, including superset edos (e.g. "31edo 5L 2s") and [[step ratio]] (e.g. "5:3 5L 2s").


Line 17: Line 18:
== See also ==
== See also ==
* [[Temperament naming]]
* [[Temperament naming]]
* [[Comparison of mode notation systems]]


[[Category:Scale]]
[[Category:Scale naming| ]] <!-- main article -->
[[Category:Naming]]