Generator sequence

Generator sequence (AGS) is a scale-building procedure developed by Scott Dakota. AGS(x₁, ..., x_r) denotes a scale-building procedure where an equave-equivalent scale is built by stacking x1 first, x2 second, ..., reducing by the equave when necessary. When xr is stacked, we go back to x₁ and start stacking x₁ again, then x₂, ... Currently, the study of AGSs is dominated by scales obtained by stopping the stacking procedure at scale sizes that yield constant-structure scales.

Certain generator-offset scales are examples. For example, diasem is AGS(8/7, 7/6) or AGS(7/6, 8/7) depending on chirality. The trivial case AGS(x1) is stacking a single generator x1 to make a rank-2 scale, such as a MOS scale.

Other definitions

• When all generators x_i in the AGS recipe AGS(x₁, ..., x_r), and the leftover interval after stacking all of these (analogous to the imperfect generator in mosses), subtend the same number of steps, we call the resulting scale well-formed AGS. In such a situation, we call the (logarithmic) average of the generators the guide generator.

AGS scale series

Well-formed AGS

Only CS sizes at least 5 are listed.

• The Zarlino series, AGS(5/4, 6/5): 5, 7, 10, 17, 24, 41, 65-forms
• The Tas/diasem series, AGS(7/6, 8/7): 5, 9, 14, 19, 24, and 29-forms
• The Ston series (from trienstonic temperament which tempers out 28/27), AGS(3/2, 14/9): 5, 8, 13, and 18-forms.
• The Zil series, AGS(8/7, 7/6, 8/7, 7/6, 8/7, 7/6, 8/7, 189/160, 8/7, 7/6): 5, 9, 14, 19, and 24-forms.