Major third: Difference between revisions

Rework the intro to address the abstract approach
No edit summary
Line 1: Line 1:
A '''major third (M3)''' in the [[5L 2s|diatonic scale]] is an interval that spans two scale steps with the major (wider) quality. It is generated by stacking 4 fifths [[octave reduction|octave reduced]], and depending on the specific tuning, it ranges from 343 to 480 [[cent]]s ([[7edo|2\7]] to [[5edo|2\5]]).  
A '''major third (M3)''' is an interval that spans two steps of the [[5L 2s|diatonic]] scale with the major (wider) quality. It is generated by stacking 4 fifths [[octave reduction|octave reduced]], and depending on the specific tuning, it ranges from 343 to 480 [[cent]]s ([[7edo|2\7]] to [[5edo|2\5]]).  


In [[just intonation]], an interval may be classified as a major third if it is reasonably mapped to 2\7 and [[24edo|8\24]] (precisely two steps of the diatonic scale and four steps of the chromatic scale). The use of 24edo's 8\24 as the mapping criteria here rather than [[12edo]]'s 4\12 better captures the characteristics of many intervals in the [[11-limit|11-]] and [[13-limit]].  
In [[just intonation]], an interval may be classified as a major third if it is reasonably mapped to 2\7 and [[24edo|8\24]] (precisely two steps of the diatonic scale and four steps of the chromatic scale). The use of 24edo's 8\24 as the mapping criteria here rather than [[12edo]]'s 4\12 better captures the characteristics of many intervals in the [[11-limit|11-]] and [[13-limit]].  


As a concrete [[interval region]], it is typically near 400 [[cents]] in size, distinct from the [[minor third]] of roughly 300 cents and the [[neutral third]] of roughly 350 cents. A rough tuning range for the major third is about 370 to 440 cents according to [[Margo Schulter]]'s theory of interval regions. ''Major third'' in this sense refers both to the ~350-450 cent range as a whole, and to a specific subdivision within it (~370–415 cents) as opposed to supermajor thirds; major thirds sharp of this are often called "supermajor thirds".  
As a concrete [[interval region]], it is typically near 400 cents in size, distinct from the [[minor third]] of roughly 300 cents and the [[neutral third]] of roughly 350 cents. A rough tuning range for the major third is about 370 to 440 cents according to [[Margo Schulter]]'s theory of interval regions. ''Major third'' in this sense refers both to the ~350-450 cent range as a whole, and to a specific subdivision within it (~370–415 cents) as opposed to supermajor thirds; major thirds sharp of this are often called "supermajor thirds".  


== In just intonation ==
== In just intonation ==