Kite's thoughts on hi-lo notation: Difference between revisions

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Generalized Voicings: changed the order of stepwise names to match the order of drop-N names, changed lolo to dublo to avoid a conflict with colorspeak's 121-over.
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Use addhi8, not add15. No degrees higher than 13 are used, analogous to chord names.  
Use addhi8, not add15. No degrees higher than 13 are used, analogous to chord names.  


The terms ''hi'' and ''lo'' and degrees R-8 cover voicings up to a 3-octave range, because every note is in either the lo octave, the central octave or the hi octave. Degrees 9-13 go even higher. To extend the range an extra octave both above and below, use hihi and lolo. For example, lolo7 is a note a 9th below the root. Lolo is never used for degrees above 7. Lolo9 becomes lo2, lolo11 becomes lo4, and lolo13 becomes lo6.
The terms ''hi'' and ''lo'' and degrees R-8 cover voicings up to a 3-octave range, because every note is in either the lo octave, the central octave or the hi octave. Degrees 9-13 go even higher. To extend the range an extra octave both above and below, use dubhi and dublo, where dub- is short for double. For example, dublo7 is a note a 9th below the root. Dublo is never used for degrees above 7. Dublo9 becomes lo2, dublo11 becomes lo4, and dublo13 becomes lo6.


To find the number of voices in a chord, start with the obvious: a triad has 3, a tetrad has 4, etc. Then subtract the "no" notes and add the "add" notes. For example, A7no5hi3add8 has 4 (A7 is a tetrad) - 1 (no 5th) + 1 (add 8ve) = 4 notes.
To find the number of voices in a chord, start with the obvious: a triad has 3, a tetrad has 4, etc. Then subtract the "no" notes and add the "add" notes. For example, A7no5hi3add8 has 4 (A7 is a tetrad) - 1 (no 5th) + 1 (add 8ve) = 4 notes.
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=== Tetrads ===
=== Tetrads ===
For a tetrad in 4 voices, there are 24 possible voicings grouped into 6 generalized voicings. The 2-1-2 voicings are known to guitarists as [[wikipedia:Voicing_(music)#Drop_voicings|drop-2 voicings]]. This "drop" terminology can be extended to the other generalized voicings, but only if there are no octave doublings.  
For a tetrad in 4 voices, there are 24 possible voicings grouped into 6 generalized voicings. The 2-1-2 voicings are known to guitarists as [[wikipedia:Voicing_(music)#Drop_voicings|drop-2 voicings]]. This drop-N terminology can be extended via "lift" to cover the other generalized voicings, but only if there are no octave doublings.  
{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
|+Generalized voicings for a tetrad in 4 voices
|+Generalized voicings for a tetrad in 4 voices
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|-
|-
! rowspan="2" |span-6
! rowspan="2" |span-6
!3-2-1
!1-2-3
!drop-3
!drop-3
|hi35
|hi35
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|hiRlo37
|hiRlo37
|-
|-
!1-2-3
!3-2-1
!lift-2
!lift-2
|hi5
|hi5
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|hi38lo7
|hi38lo7
|}
|}
In the 3-2-1 voicing, the 2nd lowest note is 3 tetratonic steps above the lowest note, the 3rd lowest note is 2 steps above the 2nd, and the 4th is 1 step above the 3rd.
In the 1-2-3 voicing, the 2nd highest note is 1 tetratonic step below the highest note, the 3rd highest note is 2 steps below the 2nd, and the 4th is 1 step below the 3rd.


The stepwise terminology has the advantage that it directly indicates the stepspan, and hence the "openness" of the voicing. Furthermore, a generalized voicing has only one stepwise name, but possibly more than one "drop" name. Drop-2 could possibly be called lift-3, and drop-2-4 could possibly be called lift-1-3.
The stepwise terminology has the advantage that it directly indicates the stepspan, and hence the "openness" of the voicing. Furthermore, a generalized voicing has only one stepwise name, but possibly more than one drop-N name. Drop-2 could possibly be called lift-3, and drop-2-4 could possibly be called lift-1-3.
 
To find the stepwise name from the drop-N name: drop-3 changes 1234 to 1243. From 1 to 2 is 1 step, from 2 to 4 is 2 steps, and from 4 to 3 is 3 steps. Thus the stepwise name is 1-2-3.


Generalized voicings are particularly useful for dim7 chords.
Generalized voicings are particularly useful for dim7 chords.


=== Pentads ===
=== Pentads ===
For a pentad in 5 voices, there are 120 possible voicings grouped into 24 generalized voicings. Above span-9 the "drop" terminology becomes rather awkward. Because of the large number of generalized voicings, the stepspan becomes quite useful as a category of categories.
For a pentad in 5 voices, there are 120 possible voicings grouped into 24 generalized voicings. Above span-9 the drop-N terminology becomes rather awkward. Because of the large number of generalized voicings, the stepspan becomes quite useful as a category of categories.
{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
|+
|+
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|-
|-
!span-7
!span-7
|3-1-2-1 = drop-3
|1-2-1-3 = drop-3
|1-2-1-3 = lift-3
|3-1-2-1 = lift-3
|
|
|
|
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|2-2-2-2 = drop-2-4
|2-2-2-2 = drop-2-4
|1-3-3-1 = drop-3-4
|1-3-3-1 = drop-3-4
|4-2-1-1 = drop-4
|1-1-2-4 = drop-4
|1-1-2-4 = lift-2
|4-2-1-1 = lift-2
|-
|-
!span-9
!span-9
|3-3-1-2 = drop-2-5
|2-1-3-3 = drop-2-5
|2-1-3-3 = lift-1-4
|3-3-1-2 = lift-1-4
|2-4-2-1 = drop-3-5
|1-2-4-2 = drop-3-5
|1-2-4-2 = lift-1-3
|2-4-2-1 = lift-1-3
|-
|-
!span-11
!span-11
|4-3-1-3 = lift-3 drop-4
|3-1-3-4 = lift-3 drop-4
|3-1-3-4 = lift-2 drop-3
|4-3-1-3 = lift-2 drop-3
|3-4-2-2 = lift-2-4 drop-3
|2-2-4-3 = lift-2-4 drop-3
|2-2-4-3 = lift-3 drop-2-4
|3-4-2-2 = lift-3 drop-2-4
|-
|-
!span-12
!span-12
|4-2-2-4 = lift-2 drop-4
|4-2-2-4 = lift-2 drop-4
|3-3-3-3 = lift-3 drop-2-5
|3-3-3-3 = lift-3 drop-2-5
|4-4-3-1 = lift-2-3 drop-4
|1-3-4-4 = lift-2-3 drop-4
|1-3-4-4 = lift-2 drop-3-4
|4-4-3-1 = lift-2 drop-3-4
|-
|-
!span-13
!span-13
|4-3-4-2 = lift-1-3 drop-4
|2-4-3-4 = lift-1-3 drop-4
|2-4-3-4 = lift-2 drop-3-5
|4-3-4-2 = lift-2 drop-3-5
|
|
|
|
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|-
|-
! rowspan="2" |span-7
! rowspan="2" |span-7
!3-1-2-1
!1-2-1-3
!drop-3
!drop-3
|hi3
|hi3
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|lo27
|lo27
|-
|-
!1-2-1-3
!3-1-2-1
!lift-3
!lift-3
|hi3lo9
|hi3lo9