Period: Difference between revisions

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The '''period''' ~~of a [[scale]] is the interval at which the scale pattern repeats. Another word for the period is the~~ '''interval of repetition'''~~. A scale with a period is known as~~ a [[~~periodic~~ scale]]~~. The period~~ is ~~usually~~ the ~~same size as~~ the [[~~equave~~]] ~~(interval of equivalence) or a fraction thereof~~.

The '''period''' (or '''interval of repetition''') of a [[scale]] is the [[interval]] at which the scale's [[step pattern]] eventually repeats, if it does at all.

In practice, the period often corresponds to the [[equave]] (interval of equivalence) or to a fraction of the equave.

In [[regular temperament theory]], the period of a scale always coincides with one of its generators.

== Scale types ==

* A ''[[periodic scale]]'' is a scale whose step pattern always repeats after a certain number of steps. The [[diatonic scale]] is an example of periodic scale.

* A ''non-periodic scale'' is a scale whose step pattern does not systematically repeat, but that may have small repeating segments in its step pattern. This type of scale is less common, but technically includes any scale with a finite number of notes and which is not expected to repeat at all, such as the sequence of {{w|DTMF}} tones.

* An ''aperiodic scale'' is a scale whose step pattern never repeats. The [[harmonic series]] is an example of aperiodic scale.

== Examples ==

In [[mos scale]]s, the period is one of the two defining intervals, the other being the [[generator]]. For example:

* The diatonic scale (LLsLLLs) has period equal to the octave.

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[[Category:Scale]]

[[Category:~~Rank 2~~]]

[[Category:Generator]]

[[Category:Terms]]

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-The '''period''' of a [[scale]] is the interval at which the scale pattern repeats. Another word for the period is the '''interval of repetition'''. A scale with a period is known as a [[periodic scale]]. The period is usually the same size as the [[equave]] (interval of equivalence) or a fraction thereof.
+The '''period''' (or '''interval of repetition''') of a [[scale]] is the [[interval]] at which the scale's [[step pattern]] eventually repeats, if it does at all.
+In practice, the period often corresponds to the [[equave]] (interval of equivalence) or to a fraction of the equave.
+In [[regular temperament theory]], the period of a scale always coincides with one of its generators.
+== Scale types ==
+* A ''[[periodic scale]]'' is a scale whose step pattern always repeats after a certain number of steps. The [[diatonic scale]] is an example of periodic scale.
+* A ''non-periodic scale'' is a scale whose step pattern does not systematically repeat, but that may have small repeating segments in its step pattern. This type of scale is less common, but technically includes any scale with a finite number of notes and which is not expected to repeat at all, such as the sequence of {{w|DTMF}} tones.
+* An ''aperiodic scale'' is a scale whose step pattern never repeats. The [[harmonic series]] is an example of aperiodic scale.
+== Examples ==
 In [[mos scale]]s, the period is one of the two defining intervals, the other being the [[generator]]. For example:
 * The diatonic scale (LLsLLLs) has period equal to the octave.
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 [[Category:Scale]]
-[[Category:Rank 2]]
+[[Category:Generator]]
 [[Category:Terms]]