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A '''subfifth''' is an interval too narrow to sound like a [[perfect fifth]] and too wide to sound like a [[tritone]]. It is a peculiar interval in that it has a range of producing a massive amount of [[overtone]]s to the point of heavily distorting the timbre of any instrument that it is played on. The interval is normally considered a [[16/11]] and is quite harsh regardless of timbre, but some are worse than others. Regardless of what the name suggests, a subfifth isn't really a type of perfect fifth but rather can be thought of as related to the tritone, however, the [[interval]] really is a class in it's own right.
A '''subfifth''', '''infrafifth''' or '''semidiminished fifth''' is an [[interval]] that spans four steps of the [[5L 2s|diatonic]] scale with a quality between diminished and perfect. It exists in [[neutralization|neutralized]] diatonic scales as exactly one half of a minor ninth.  


The subfifth has a xen appeal because it is a sound that is so far from anything possible in [[12edo]] or [[5-limit]] [[just intonation]] that it resembles the very essence of the term "out of tune". Anyone who does not enjoy rough intervals will hate this interval range with a passion. This is for those who can find beauty in the harsh and dissonant.
In [[just intonation]], an interval may be classified as a subfifth if it is reasonably mapped to [[7edo|4\7]] and [[24edo|13\24]] (precisely four steps of the diatonic scale and six and a half steps of the chromatic scale).


See [[16/11]] or [[22/15]] for examples.
As a concrete [[interval region]], it is typically near 650{{cent}} in size. It is too narrow to sound like a [[perfect fifth]] and too wide to sound like a [[tritone]]. [[Margo Schulter]], in her article [http://www.bestii.com/%7Emschulter/IntervalSpectrumRegions.txt Regions of the Interval Spectrum], proposes an approximate range for a subfifth to be from 640{{cent}} to 672{{cent}}. Of course, this categorization should not be taken for granted. Since music is subjective and culturally influenced, the borders of what is a superfourth are "fuzzy". Other descriptions are possible and legitimate.
 
Some of the simplest subfifths in [[just intonation]] are [[16/11]] (about 649{{c}}) and [[22/15]] (about 663{{c}}), both undecimal (11-based) subfifths; and [[35/24]] (about 653{{c}}) and [[72/49]] (about 666{{c}}), both septimal (7-based) subfifths.
 
Information about subfifths in the conventional interval region format may be found at [[Tritone]].
 
The inversion of a subfifth is a [[superfourth]].


== See also ==
== See also ==
* [[Superfourth]] the [[octave complement]] region
* [[Superfourth]] the [[octave complement]] region


{{Navbox intervals}}
{{Navbox intervals}}


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Latest revision as of 08:58, 6 March 2025

A subfifth, infrafifth or semidiminished fifth is an interval that spans four steps of the diatonic scale with a quality between diminished and perfect. It exists in neutralized diatonic scales as exactly one half of a minor ninth.

In just intonation, an interval may be classified as a subfifth if it is reasonably mapped to 4\7 and 13\24 (precisely four steps of the diatonic scale and six and a half steps of the chromatic scale).

As a concrete interval region, it is typically near 650 ¢ in size. It is too narrow to sound like a perfect fifth and too wide to sound like a tritone. Margo Schulter, in her article Regions of the Interval Spectrum, proposes an approximate range for a subfifth to be from 640 ¢ to 672 ¢. Of course, this categorization should not be taken for granted. Since music is subjective and culturally influenced, the borders of what is a superfourth are "fuzzy". Other descriptions are possible and legitimate.

Some of the simplest subfifths in just intonation are 16/11 (about 649 ¢) and 22/15 (about 663 ¢), both undecimal (11-based) subfifths; and 35/24 (about 653 ¢) and 72/49 (about 666 ¢), both septimal (7-based) subfifths.

Information about subfifths in the conventional interval region format may be found at Tritone.

The inversion of a subfifth is a superfourth.

See also


ViewTalkEditInterval classification
Interval regions
Unison and octave UnisonComma and diesisOctave
Seconds Minor secondNeutral secondMajor second
Thirds Minor thirdNeutral thirdMajor third
Fourths and fifths Perfect fourthSuperfourthTritoneSubfifthPerfect fifth
Sixths Minor sixthNeutral sixthMajor sixth
Sevenths Minor seventhNeutral seventhMajor seventh
Interseptimal intervals Interseptimal 2nd-3rd • Interseptimal 3rd-4th • Interseptimal 5th-6th • Interseptimal 6th-7th
Interval qualities
Diatonic qualities DiminishedMinorPerfectMajorAugmented
Tuning ranges Neutral (interval quality)Submajor and supraminorPental major and minorNovamajor and novaminorNeogothic major and minorSupermajor and subminorUltramajor and inframinor