Just intonation subgroup: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 05:11, 22 August 2026

A just intonation subgroup consists of all just intonation intervals formed by arbitrarily stacking a set of intervals and their inverses finitely many times. The term subgroup refers to its mathematical structure with respect to JI – a subset of a group that is also a group. Just intonation subgroups organize intervals consistently, with each subgroup corresponding to a lattice; the use of these as an approach to JI is closely related to regular temperament theory.

Just intonation subgroups can be described by listing their generators in frequency ratios with full stops between them; we use said convention below. For example, the 2.3.7 subgroup is a subgroup consisting of intervals that are combinations of 2, 3, and 7.

In standard mathematical notation, let r₁, …, r_n be positive rationals, and suppose s_i is the musical interval of log₂(r_i) octaves. Then

$$ r_1.r_2.\cdots.r_n := \operatorname{span}_\mathbb{Z} \{v_1, \cdots, v_n\}. $$

If any redundant generators are eliminated, the set of generators is a basis. In general, given a subgroup written as generated by such a set: r₁.r₂.r₃.[…].r_n, each member of this set is called a basis element, structural prime, or "formal prime".^{[note 1]}

Subgroups have been categorized as follows (after normalization):

Prime subgroups (e.g. 2.3.7) contain only prime basis elements;
Composite subgroups (e.g. 2.9.5) contain composite and perhaps prime basis elements too;
Fractional subgroups (e.g. 2.3.7/5) contain fractional numbers and perhaps prime and/or composite numbers too.

A prime subgroup that does not omit any primes less than p (e.g. 2.3.5, 2.3.5.7, 2.3.5.7.11, etc. but not 2.3.7 or 3.5.7) is simply called p-limit JI. It is customary of just intonation subgroups to refer only to prime subgroups that do omit such primes, as well as the other two categories.

Normalization

A canonical notation system for just intonation subgroups is to give a normal form for the generators of the group, which will also show the rank of the group by the number of generators in the list. The Hermite normal form should be used here, not the canonical form, because in the case of subgroups, enfactoring is usually desired, such as in the subgroup 2.9.7 which should not be reduced to 2.3.7 by subgroup canonicalization.

Index

English Wikipedia has an article on:

Index of a subgroup

Intuitively speaking, the index measures the relative size of the subgroup within another subgroup, which is usually the minimal prime subgroup or the minimal prime limit.

Subgroups in the strict sense come in two flavors: finite index and infinite index. For example, the subgroups generated by 4 and 3, by 2 and 9, and by 4 and 6 all have index 2 in the full 3-limit (Pythagorean) group. Half of the 3-limit intervals will belong to any one of them, and half will not, and all three groups are distinct. On the other hand, the group generated by 2, 3, and 7 is of infinite index in the full 7-limit group, which is generated by 2, 3, 5 and 7. The index can be computed by taking the determinant of the subgroup basis matrix, whose columns are the monzos of the generators.

Generalization

Non-JI intervals can also be used as basis elements, when the subgroup in question contains non-JI intervals. For example, 2.sqrt(3/2) is the group generated by 2/1 and sqrt(3/2) (a neutral third which is exactly one half of 3/2, 350.978 cents). This is closely related to the 3L 4s mos tuning with neutral third generator sqrt(3/2).

List of selected subgroups

Below we give some of the more interesting subgroup systems. If a scale is given with the system, it means the subgroup is generated by the notes of the scale.

7-limit subgroups

Others:

2.3.7/5
- EDOs: 10, 29, 31, 41, 70, 171, 241, 412
2.5/3.7
- EDOs: 12, 15, 42, 57, 270, 327
2.5.7/3
- EDOs: 9, 31, 40, 50, 81, 90, 171, 261
2.5/3.7/3
- EDOs: 27, 68, 72, 99, 171, 517
2.27/25.7/3
- EDOs: 9
- In effect, equivalent to 9edo, which has a 7-limit version given by [27/25, 7/6, 63/50, 49/36, 72/49, 100/63, 12/7, 50/27, 2]
2.9/5.9/7
- EDOs: 6, 21, 27, 33, 105, 138, 171, 1848, 2019, 2190, 2361, 2532, 2703, 2874, 3045, 3216, 3387, 3558
- The terrain temperament subgroup

11-limit subgroups

Others:

2.5.11
- EDOs: 6, 7, 9, 13, 15, 22, 37, 87, 320
2.7.11
- EDOs: 6, 9, 11, 20, 26, 135, 161, 296
2.5.7.11
- EDOs: 6, 15, 31, 35, 37, 109, 618, 960
2.5/3.7/3.11/3
- EDOs: 33, 41, 49, 57, 106, 204, 253
- The indium temperament subgroup.

13-limit subgroups

Others:

2.3.13
- EDOs: 7, 10, 17, 60, 70, 130, 147, 277, 424
- Mustaqim mode, Ibn Sina [9/8, 39/32, 4/3, 3/2, 13/8, 16/9, 2/1]
2.3.5.13
- EDOs: 15, 19, 34, 53, 87, 130, 140, 246, 270
- The cata, trinidad and parizekmic temperaments subgroup
2.3.7.13
- EDOs: 10, 26, 27, 36, 77, 94, 104, 130, 234
- Buzurg [14/13, 16/13, 4/3, 56/39, 3/2]
- Safi al-Din tuning [8/7, 16/13, 4/3, 32/21, 64/39, 16/9, 2/1]
- Ibn Sina tuning [14/13, 7/6, 4/3, 3/2, 21/13, 7/4, 2]
2.3.5.11.13
2.5.7.13
- EDOs: 7, 10, 17, 27, 37, 84, 121, 400
- The huntington temperament subgroup
2.5.7.11.13
- EDOs: 6, 7, 13, 19, 25, 31, 37
- The roulette temperament subgroup
2.3.13/5
- EDOs: 5, 9, 14, 19, 24, 29, 53, 82, 111, 140, 251, 362
- The barbados temperament subgroup.
2.3.11/5.13/5
- EDOs: 5, 9, 14, 19, 24, 29
- The bridgetown temperament subgroup
2.3.11/7.13/7
- EDOs: 5, 7, 12, 17, 29, 46, 75, 196, 271
- The pepperoni temperament subgroup.
2.7/5.11/5.13/5
- EDOs: 5, 8, 21, 29, 37, 66, 169, 235
- The tridec temperament subgroup.

Higher-limit subgroups

Irrational subgroups

Hemipyth (√2.√3 subgroup)
Hemipent (√2.√3.√5 subgroup)

Notes

↑ The meaning of "formal" this term is using is "of external form or structure, rather than nature or content", which is to say that a formal prime is not necessarily actually a prime, but we treat them as if they were. The original coiner of this term, Inthar, has recommended its disuse, in favor of the mathematically accurate and generic basis element, or possibly something else which indicates the co-uniqueness of the elements.

[1] The meaning of "formal" this term is using is "of external form or structure, rather than nature or content", which is to say that a formal prime is not necessarily actually a prime, but we treat them as if they were. The original coiner of this term, Inthar, has recommended its disuse, in favor of the mathematically accurate and generic basis element, or possibly something else which indicates the co-uniqueness of the elements.

[note 1]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-{{interwiki
+{{Interwiki
+| en = Just intonation subgroup
 | de = Untergruppe der reinen Stimmung
-| en = Just intonation subgroup
 | es =
 | ja = 純正律部分群
 }}
-A '''just intonation subgroup''' is a {{w|free abelian group|group}} generated by a finite set of positive rational numbers via arbitrary multiplications and divisions. Using subgroups implies a way to organize [[just intonation]] intervals such that they form a lattice. Therefore it is closely related to [[regular temperament theory]].
+A '''just intonation subgroup''' consists of all [[just intonation]] intervals formed by arbitrarily [[stacking]] a set of intervals and their inverses finitely many times. The term ''{{w|subgroup}}'' refers to its mathematical structure with respect to JI – a subset of a {{w|group (mathematics)|group}} that is also a group. Just intonation subgroups organize intervals consistently, with each subgroup corresponding to a [[lattice]]; the use of these as an approach to JI is closely related to [[regular temperament theory]].
-Just intonation subgroups can be described by listing their [[generator]]s with full stops between them; we use said convention below. In standard mathematical notation, let ''c''<sub>1</sub>, …, ''c''<sub>''r''</sub> be positive reals, and suppose ''v''<sub>''k''</sub> is the musical interval of log<sub>2</sub>(''c''<sub>''k''</sub>) octaves. Then
+Just intonation subgroups can be described by listing their [[generator]]s in [[frequency ratio]]s with full stops between them; we use said convention below. For example, the [[2.3.7 subgroup]] is a subgroup consisting of intervals that are combinations of [[2/1|2]], [[3/1|3]], and [[7/1|7]].
-<math>c_1.c_2.\cdots.c_r := \operatorname{span}_\mathbb{Z} \{v_1, \cdots, v_k\}.</math>
+In standard mathematical notation, let ''r''<sub>1</sub>, …, ''r''<sub>''n''</sub> be positive rationals, and suppose ''s''<sub>''i''</sub> is the musical interval of log<sub>2</sub>(''r''<sub>''i''</sub>) octaves. Then
-There are three categories of subgroups:
+$$ r_1.r_2.\cdots.r_n := \operatorname{span}_\mathbb{Z} \{v_1, \cdots, v_n\}. $$
-* ''Prime subgroups'' (e.g. 2.3.7) contain only primes
-* ''Composite subgroups'' (e.g. 2.9.5) contain composite numbers and perhaps prime numbers too
-* ''Fractional subgroups'' (e.g. 2.3.7/5) contain fractional numbers and perhaps prime and/or composite numbers too
-For composite and fractional subgroups, not all combinations of numbers are mathematically valid [[basis|bases]] for subgroups. For example, 2.3.9 has a redundant generator 9, and both 2.3.15 and 2.3.5/3 can be simplified to 2.3.5.
+If any redundant generators are eliminated, the set of generators is a [[basis]]. In general, given a subgroup written as generated by such a set: ''r''<sub>1</sub>.''r''<sub>2</sub>.''r''<sub>3</sub>.[…].''r''<sub>''n''</sub>, each member of this set is called a '''basis element''', '''structural prime''', or "'''formal prime'''".<ref group="note">The meaning of "formal" this term is using is "of external form or structure, rather than nature or content", which is to say that a formal prime is not necessarily ''actually'' a prime, but we treat them as if they were. The original coiner of this term, [[Inthar]], has recommended its disuse, in favor of the mathematically accurate and generic ''basis element'', or possibly something else which indicates the co-uniqueness of the elements.</ref>
-A prime subgroup that does not omit any primes < ''p'' (e.g. 2.3.5, 2.3.5.7, 2.3.5.7.11, etc. but not 2.3.7 or 3.5.7) is simply called [[harmonic limit|''p''-limit JI]]. It is customary of just intonation subgroups to refer only to prime subgroups that do omit such primes, as well as the other two categories.
+Subgroups have been categorized as follows (after [[#Normalization|normalization]]):
+* ''Prime subgroups'' (e.g. 2.3.7) contain only prime basis elements;
+* ''Composite subgroups'' (e.g. 2.9.5) contain composite and perhaps prime basis elements too;
+* ''Fractional subgroups'' (e.g. 2.3.7/5) contain fractional numbers and perhaps prime and/or composite numbers too.
-The following terminology has been proposed for streamlining pedagogy: Given a subgroup written as generated by a fixed (non-redundant) set: ''a''.''b''.''c''.[…].''d'', call any member of this set a '''basis element''', '''structural prime''', or "'''formal prime'''".<ref>The meaning of "formal" this term is using is "of external form or structure, rather than nature or content", which is to say that a formal prime is not necessarily ''actually'' a prime, but we treat them as if they were. The original coiner of this term, [[Inthar]], has recommended its disuse, in favor of the mathematically accurate and generic "basis element", or possibly something else which indicates the co-uniqueness of the elements.</ref> For example, if the group is written 2.5/3.7/3, the basis elements are 2, 5/3 and 7/3.
+A prime subgroup that does not omit any primes less than ''p'' (e.g. 2.3.5, 2.3.5.7, 2.3.5.7.11, etc. but not 2.3.7 or 3.5.7) is simply called [[harmonic limit|''p''-limit JI]]. It is customary of just intonation subgroups to refer only to prime subgroups that do omit such primes, as well as the other two categories.
 == Normalization ==
-A canonical naming system for just intonation subgroups is to give a [[normal forms #Normal forms for commas|normal form]] for the generators of the group, which will also show the [[Wikipedia: Rank of an abelian group|rank]] of the group by the number of generators in the list (the [[Hermite normal form]] should be used here, not the [[canonical form]], because in the case of subgroups, [[enfactoring]] is sometimes desirable, such as in the subgroup 2.9.7 which should not be reduced to 2.3.7 by subgroup canonicalization). Below we give some of the more interesting subgroup systems. If a scale is given with the system, it means the subgroup is generated by the notes of the scale.
+A canonical notation system for just intonation subgroups is to give a [[normal forms #Normal forms for commas|normal form]] for the generators of the group, which will also show the {{w|rank of an abelian group|rank}} of the group by the number of generators in the list. The [[Hermite normal form]] should be used here, not the [[canonical form]], because in the case of subgroups, [[enfactoring]] is usually desired, such as in the subgroup 2.9.7 which should not be reduced to 2.3.7 by subgroup canonicalization.
 == Index ==
-{{See also| Wikipedia: Index of a subgroup }}
+{{Wikipedia|Index of a subgroup}}
-Intuitively speaking, the '''index''' measures the relative size of the subgroup within another subgroup, which is usually the ''p''-limit.
+Intuitively speaking, the '''index''' measures the relative size of the subgroup within another subgroup, which is usually the minimal prime subgroup or the minimal prime limit.
-Subgroups in the strict sense come in two flavors: finite index and infinite index. For example, the subgroups generated by 4 and 3, by 2 and 9, and by 4 and 6 all have index 2 in the full [[3-limit]] (Pythagorean) group. Half of the 3-limit intervals will belong to any one of them, and half will not, and all three groups are distinct. On the other hand, the group generated by 2, 3, and 7 is of infinite index in the full [[7-limit]] group, which is generated by 2, 3, 5 and 7. The index can be computed by taking the determinant of the [[subgroup basis matrix]], whose columns are the [[monzo]]s of the generators.
+Subgroups in the strict sense come in two flavors: finite index and infinite index. For example, the subgroups generated by 4 and 3, by 2 and 9, and by 4 and 6 all have index 2 in the full [[3-limit]] (Pythagorean) group. Half of the 3-limit intervals will belong to any one of them, and half will not, and all three groups are distinct. On the other hand, the group generated by 2, 3, and 7 is of infinite index in the full [[7-limit]] group, which is generated by 2, 3, 5 and 7. The index can be computed by taking the {{w|determinant}} of the [[subgroup basis matrix]], whose columns are the [[monzo]]s of the generators.
 == Generalization ==
-Non-JI intervals can also be used as basis elements, when the subgroup in question contains non-JI intervals. For example, 2.sqrt(3/2) (sometimes written 2.2ed3/2) is the group generated by [[2/1]] and [[sqrt(3/2)]] (a neutral third which is exactly one half of 3/2, 350.978 [[cent]]s). This is closely related to the [[3L 4s]] mos tuning with neutral third generator sqrt(3/2).
+Non-JI intervals can also be used as basis elements, when the subgroup in question contains non-JI intervals. For example, 2.sqrt(3/2) is the group generated by [[2/1]] and [[sqrt(3/2)]] (a neutral third which is exactly one half of 3/2, 350.978 [[cent]]s). This is closely related to the [[3L 4s]] mos tuning with neutral third generator sqrt(3/2).
 == List of selected subgroups ==
+Below we give some of the more interesting subgroup systems. If a scale is given with the system, it means the subgroup is generated by the notes of the scale.
 === 7-limit subgroups ===
 * [[2.3.7 subgroup]]
@@ Line 122: / Line 124: @@
 == Notes ==
+<references group="note"/>
 [[Category:Subgroup| ]] <!-- main article -->
 [[Category:Just intonation]]

Just intonation subgroup: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 05:11, 22 August 2026

Contents

Normalization

Index

Generalization

List of selected subgroups

7-limit subgroups

11-limit subgroups

13-limit subgroups

Higher-limit subgroups

Irrational subgroups

See also

Notes

Navigation menu

Just intonation subgroup: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 05:11, 22 August 2026

Normalization

Index

Generalization

List of selected subgroups

7-limit subgroups

11-limit subgroups

13-limit subgroups

Higher-limit subgroups

Irrational subgroups

See also

Notes

Navigation menu

Search