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Barbados[9], another MV2 scale.
Barbados[9], another MV2 scale.


Physical instruments to use
=== Physical instruments to use ===
Here are a few physical instruments that can play xen music, sorted by price. The two cheapest options are good enough for most purposes.
 
What is isomorphicness?
 
How many keys do you want?
 
==== Kalimbas and mbiras ====
''Price:'' $20-$100
 
''Number of keys:'' about 20
 
''Velocity sensitivity:'' Real
 
''Layout:'' Varies
 
''Retunability:'' Somewhat easy
 
Kalimbas and mbiras can be retuned to xenharmonic scales, although trying to retune them to scales of more than seven notes can pose problems.
 
==== Launchpad X ====
''Price:'' $200


Here are a few physical instruments that can play xen music, sorted by price. The two cheapest options are good enough for most purposes.
''Number of keys:'' 64-81
{| class="wikitable sortable"
 
|+todo: make the last three columns the same and center the table width
''Velocity sensitivity:'' Yes
!Instrument
 
!Number
''Layout:'' Square
of Keys
!Velocity
sensitivity


(if elec-
''Retunability:'' Easy


tronic)
!Layout
!Retun-
ability
|-
|Kalimbas and mbiras
|~20
|Real
|Varies
|Somewhat easy
|-
| colspan="5" |can be retuned to xenharmonic scales
|-
|Launchpad X (link to osmium)
|64-81
|Yes
|Square
|Easy
|-
|
|
|
|
|
|}
Number of keys
| Velocity sensitivity? (if electronic)
| | Layout
| | | Retunability
Kalimbas and mbiras ($20-$100) ~20 Real Varies Somewhat easy
can be retuned to xenharmonic scales
Launchpad X ($200) 64-81 Yes Square Easy
Can play edos up to 22 (if you care about having decent range) or higher (if you don’t) as an isomorphic keyboard, which means that if you play one pattern, move your hand somewhere else on the keyboard, and play the same pattern there, the two patterns will be exactly the same except that one will be higher than the other. Can also play any of the tunings in the earlier section handily.  
Can play edos up to 22 (if you care about having decent range) or higher (if you don’t) as an isomorphic keyboard, which means that if you play one pattern, move your hand somewhere else on the keyboard, and play the same pattern there, the two patterns will be exactly the same except that one will be higher than the other. Can also play any of the tunings in the earlier section handily.  
Guitar (~$300) ~140 Real Varies Hard
 
you’ve heard of this one before. Spaces between frets get too small for comfort around 27edo, although a solution for 41edo (having frets for every other note in the scale and finding the whole gamut through other strings) is isomorphic and uniquely elegant. Fretless guitars are also an option.
==== Guitar ====
HexBoard ($400) 140 No Hex Easy
''Price:'' ~$350
Can play edos up to 31.
 
Electric piano (~$400) 88 Maybe not good Easy
''Number of keys: ~''140
 
''Velocity sensitivity:''
 
''Layout:'' Varies (usually isomorphic)
 
''Retunability:'' Hard
 
You’ve heard of this one before. Spaces between frets get too small for comfort around 27edo, although a solution for 41edo (having frets for every other note in the scale and finding the whole gamut through other strings) is isomorphic and uniquely elegant. Fretless guitars are also an option.
 
==== HexBoard ====
''Price:'' $400
 
''Number of keys:'' 140
 
''Velocity sensitivity:'' No
 
''Layout:'' Hex
 
''Retunability:'' Easy
 
Marketed as a cheap alternative to the Lumatone.
 
==== Electric piano (not recommended) ====
''Price:'' ~$400
 
''Number of keys: 88''
 
''Velocity sensitivity:'' Depends
 
''Layout:'' [[Halberstadt layout|Halberstadt]]
 
''Retunability:'' Easy
 
Deals well with some scales with fewer than 12 notes, and a select number of larger scales. Not the best option if you don’t already have one
Deals well with some scales with fewer than 12 notes, and a select number of larger scales. Not the best option if you don’t already have one
String instruments ($500-2000) [[User:Hkm|hkm]] ([[User talk:Hkm|talk]]) continuous pitch [[User:Hkm|hkm]] ([[User talk:Hkm|talk]])
 
By far the most difficult option out of these. All string instruments can play xenharmonic music, although there’s a little more inherent inaccuracy in the smaller ones. Fretless guitar is the best and the cheapest
==== String instruments ====
Lumatone ($4000) ~300 Yes Hex Easy
''Price:'' $500-$3000
 
''Number of keys:'' As many pitch classes are available as your fingers can manage, which is about 50 per octave
 
''Velocity sensitivity:'' Absolutely
 
''Layout:'' Isomorphic
 
''Retunability:'' Not necessary
 
By far the most difficult option out of these. All string instruments can play xenharmonic music, although there’s a little more inherent inaccuracy in the smaller ones. Fretless guitar is the best and the cheapest.
 
==== Lumatone ====
''Price:'' $4000
 
''Number of keys:'' ~300
 
''Velocity sensitivity:'' Yes
 
''Layout:'' Hex
 
''Retunability:'' Easy
 
Everything you could want out of a xenharmonic instrument if you like using scales smaller than 36 notes per octave. Also works somewhat well for larger scales. Generally considered to not be worth the price.
Everything you could want out of a xenharmonic instrument if you like using scales smaller than 36 notes per octave. Also works somewhat well for larger scales. Generally considered to not be worth the price.
Methods of notation
 
=== Methods of notation ===
This section assumes you know how to read standard 12edo note names. Learn that first if you don’t.
This section assumes you know how to read standard 12edo note names. Learn that first if you don’t.
Most methods of notation on the five-line staff are such that (…-C#-F#)-B-E-A-D-G-C-F-(Bb-Eb-…) is a chain of equal fourths; these systems are called “chain-of-fourths” or “chain-of-fifths.”
Most methods of notation on the five-line staff are such that (…-C#-F#)-B-E-A-D-G-C-F-(Bb-Eb-…) is a chain of equal fourths; these systems are called “chain-of-fourths” or “chain-of-fifths.”  
The most popular way of notating edos is Ups and Downs notation, which is a chain-of-fifths notation where ^ and v are used as +1 and -1 step alterations.
 
The most popular way to notate just intonation is HEJI, which also uses a chain-of-fourths notation; FJS (which I recommend), NFJS, and color notation are other chain-of-fourths options similar to HEJI, while Johnston notation is a non-chain-of-fourths notation fit for simple folk-like works
The most popular way of notating edos is Ups and Downs notation, which is a chain-of-fifths notation where ^ and v are used as +1 and -1 step alterations.  
Software to use
 
The most popular way to notate just intonation is HEJI, which also uses a chain-of-fourths notation; FJS (which I recommend), NFJS, and color notation are other chain-of-fourths options similar to HEJI, while Johnston notation is a non-chain-of-fourths notation fit for simple folk-like works. If computer playback is not desired, it may be reasonable to notate just intonation through an edo such as [[41edo|41]], [[58edo|58]], or [[72edo|72]].
 
=== Software to use ===
Notation-based options work best for large scales and edos (>24 notes), while DAWs are preferable for smaller scales and EDOs.
Notation-based options work best for large scales and edos (>24 notes), while DAWs are preferable for smaller scales and EDOs.
Notation-based options
 
Musescore 4 using XenKit: FREE OPEN-SOURCE
==== Notation-based options ====
The easiest way to write xenharmonic music through standard Western notation.
''Musescore 4 using XenKit: FREE OPEN-SOURCE.'' The easiest way to write xenharmonic music through standard Western notation.
Musescore 3 using XenTuner: FREE OPEN-SOURCE
 
Use this as an alternative to Musescore 4 if you can’t download it or find XenKit limiting—XenKit has a few more capabilities than XenTuner.
''Musescore 3 using XenTuner: FREE OPEN-SOURCE.'' Use this as an alternative to Musescore 4 if you can’t download it or find XenKit limiting—XenKit has fewer capabilities than XenTuner.
DORICO: $100
 
''DORICO: $100''
Might be worth it if you’re serious about microtonal composition. Doesn’t require plugins, but it might be slower to update and harder to customize.
Might be worth it if you’re serious about microtonal composition. Doesn’t require plugins, but it might be slower to update and harder to customize.
DAW-based options
 
[idk about this]
==== DAW-based options ====
Learn how to read the wiki
[idk about this]
[idk about this]
== Learn how to read the wiki ==
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