Johnston–Copper notation: Difference between revisions

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In the same way, the cases for an altered flat or a normal flat follow the 5-limit basis of the diatonic scale: the flat 7th uses a normal flat sign. From the flat third, continuing lower by fifths, the usual tuning will require an altered flat for the 3rd, 6th, 2nd, 5th, etc. In C major, these become Bb (ordinary flat) then ^Eb, ^Ab, ^Db, ^Gb, ^Cb, and the preceding '^' indicates a comma-high marking.

Because in practice music rarely stays purely diatonic or completely centered on the same harmonies, any particular individual moment of music may require a tuning that is different than the just intonation basis. When a comma higher than the altered sharp sign would indicate is needed, the notation uses a regular sharp sign. When a comma lower than the altered flat sign would indicate is needed, the notation uses a regular flat sign. It is very rare that a tuning is needed that is two commas higher than the altered sharp sign, or two commas lower than the altered flat sign, but in such cases an additional comma modifier may be used. It is not uncommon, however, for a musical moment to require a comma ''higher'' than the altered flat or ''lower'' than the altered sharp, and in the notation being described here the relevant accidental is 'decorated' with two small arrow heads, up in the case of the double high flat or down in the case of the double low sharp.

Just as with sharps and flats, natural signs perform the same functions in what might be called the opposite key types. That is, in a key with many sharps, the natural sign functions just like a flat sign and in a key with many flats, the natural sign functions as a sharp sign, in each case altered the indicated note by a half step. Therefore, the same modifications are used, and for a natural functioning as a flat, the 'decorations' are placed on the upper 'arm' of the natural sign and for a natural functioning as a sharp, the 'decorations' are placed on the lower arm (leg) of the natural sign.

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 In the same way, the cases for an altered flat or a normal flat follow the 5-limit basis of the diatonic scale: the flat 7th uses a normal flat sign.  From the flat third, continuing lower by fifths, the usual tuning will require an altered flat for the 3rd, 6th, 2nd, 5th, etc.  In C major, these become Bb (ordinary flat) then ^Eb, ^Ab, ^Db, ^Gb, ^Cb, and the preceding '^' indicates a comma-high marking.
 Because in practice music rarely stays purely diatonic or completely centered on the same harmonies, any particular individual moment of music may require a tuning that is different than the just  intonation basis.  When a comma higher than the altered sharp sign would indicate is needed, the notation uses a regular sharp sign.  When a comma lower than the altered flat sign would indicate is needed, the notation uses a regular flat sign. It is very rare that a tuning is needed that is two commas higher than the altered sharp sign, or two commas lower than the altered flat sign, but in such cases an additional comma modifier may be used.  It is not uncommon, however, for a musical moment to require a comma ''higher'' than the altered flat or ''lower'' than the altered sharp, and in the notation being described here the relevant accidental is 'decorated' with two small arrow heads, up in the case of the double high flat or down in the case of the double low sharp.
+Just as with sharps and flats, natural signs perform the same functions in what might be called the opposite key types.  That is, in a key with many sharps, the natural sign functions just like a flat sign and in a key with many flats, the natural sign functions as a sharp sign, in each case altered the indicated note by a half step.  Therefore, the same modifications are used, and for a natural functioning as a flat, the 'decorations' are placed on the upper 'arm' of the natural sign and for a natural functioning as a sharp, the 'decorations' are placed on the lower  arm (leg) of the natural sign.