Nominal-accidental chain: Difference between revisions

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'''Nominals''' are pitch elements that have specific names. In Western musical notation, these names are the seven letters A, B, C, D, E, F, and G (historically, H has also been used). In a pentatonic notation, there would be only five names.

'''Accidentals''' are additional pitches that arise as modifications of the nominals. Unmodified pitches are natural notes. In diatonic [[circle-of-fifths notation]], the additional pitches are denoted by adding '''sharps''' or '''flats''' to the natural notes. The sharp accidental denotes a pitch raise by a [[chromatic semitone]], equivalent to a raise by 7 fifths minus 4 octaves. Conversely, the flat accidental denotes a pitch drop by the same amount. In [[equal temperament]]s, the number of steps this interval is mapped to is called the [[sharpness]].

~~{{Wikipedia| Accidental (music) }}~~

'''Accidentals''' are additional pitches that arise as modifications of the nominals. Unmodified pitches are natural notes. In diatonic [[circle-of-fifths notation]], the additional pitches are denoted by adding '''sharps''' or '''flats''' to the natural notes. The sharp accidental denotes a pitch raise by a [[chromatic semitone]], equivalent to a raise by 7 fifths minus 4 octaves. Conversely, the flat accidental denotes a pitch drop by the same amount. In [[equal temperament]]s, the number of steps this interval is mapped to is called the [[sharpness]].

These pitches form a chain, with each one separated from the next by a specific interval. This interval can be said to generate the notation, or the notation can be said to be based on this interval. In diatonic circle-of-fifths notation, this interval has been a just or near-just 3/2. Other intervals are possible, and even desirable for certain edos like 13, 18 and 23.

@@ Line 5: / Line 5: @@
 '''Nominals''' are pitch elements that have specific names. In Western musical notation, these names are the seven letters A, B, C, D, E, F, and G (historically, H has also been used). In a pentatonic notation, there would be only five names.
-'''Accidentals''' are additional pitches that arise as modifications of the nominals. Unmodified pitches are natural notes. In diatonic [[circle-of-fifths notation]], the additional pitches are denoted by adding '''sharps''' or '''flats''' to the natural notes. The sharp accidental denotes a pitch raise by a [[chromatic semitone]], equivalent to a raise by 7 fifths minus 4 octaves. Conversely, the flat accidental denotes a pitch drop by the same amount. In [[equal temperament]]s, the number of steps this interval is mapped to is called the [[sharpness]].
+{{Wikipedia| Accidental (music) }}
-{{Wikipedia| Accidental (music) }}
+'''Accidentals''' are additional pitches that arise as modifications of the nominals. Unmodified pitches are natural notes. In diatonic [[circle-of-fifths notation]], the additional pitches are denoted by adding '''sharps''' or '''flats''' to the natural notes. The sharp accidental denotes a pitch raise by a [[chromatic semitone]], equivalent to a raise by 7 fifths minus 4 octaves. Conversely, the flat accidental denotes a pitch drop by the same amount. In [[equal temperament]]s, the number of steps this interval is mapped to is called the [[sharpness]].
 These pitches form a chain, with each one separated from the next by a specific interval. This interval can be said to generate the notation, or the notation can be said to be based on this interval. In diatonic circle-of-fifths notation, this interval has been a just or near-just 3/2. Other intervals are possible, and even desirable for certain edos like 13, 18 and 23.