16/11

Interval information

Ratio	16/11
Factorization	24 × 11-1
Monzo	[4 0 0 0 -1⟩
Size in cents	648.6821¢
Names	undecimal subfifth, minor fifth, Alpharabian paraminor fifth, just paraminor fifth
Color name	1u5, lu 5th
FJS name	[math]\displaystyle{ \text{P5}_{11} }[/math]
Special properties	reduced, reduced subharmonic
Tenney height (log2 nd)	7.45943
Weil height (log2 max(n, d))	8
Wilson height (sopfr(nd))	19
[sound info]
Open this interval in xen-calc

In 11-limit just intonation, 16/11 is an undecimal subfifth measuring about 648.7¢. It is the inversion of 11/8, the undecimal superfourth. While the name "undecimal subfifth" suggests some variation of a perfect fifth, the subfifth is generally considered an interval in it's own right being like neither a perfect fifth nor the tritone. Accordingly, this interval has also been referred to as the minor fifth, and, given its connections to Alpharabian tuning, it can also be somewhat similarly dubbed the Alpharabian paraminor fifth or even the just paraminor fifth.

The character of this interval is something very unique in that it produces a sound of overtones that resembles that of a large bell. Furthermore, the hands of a good composer, 16/11 has decent potential as the interval between the root and fifth of a chord. That said, even the best triads that utilize it in this capacity- such as 44:55:64- must be handled with some measure of care as the rather dissonant nature of this interval provides a sense of tension, albeit less so than with diminished triads.

See also

• 11/8 – its octave complement
• 33/32 – its fifth complement
• Gallery of just intervals
• Iceface tuning