Comma: Difference between revisions
Xenwolf moved page Comma to Small comma Tag: New redirect |
re-imported common information from the old "comma" page which is now under Small comma (this way round the resulting history (there) better reflects the original authorship) Tag: Removed redirect |
||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
{{interwiki | |||
| de = Komma | |||
| en = Comma | |||
| es = | |||
| ja = | |||
}} | |||
A '''comma''' is a small interval that occurs in [[just intonation]], between two intervals which are close in pitch. Commas are always greater than 1/1 (0 [[cent]]s) and not a power such as a square or cube of any other interval, and generally in a low [[prime limit]]. The word is often used in reference to [[Regular Temperaments|regular tempering]] when the comma is ''[[tempered out]]'', which is to say reduced to a unison, by the temperament, thereby equating the intervals separated by that comma. For example the Syntonic or Didymus comma of 81/80, which occurs between [[10/9]] and [[9/8]], as well as [[81/64]] and [[5/4]], is tempered out by [[meantone]] temperament. Commas are usually written as [[ratio]]s, but they can also be written as [[monzo]]s. The following lists mostly give both forms, as well as the size in [[cent]]s. The [[Color notation|color name]] refers to both the comma and the temperament created when it is tempered out, except for 3-limit commas, which create [[edo]]s. | |||
== Categorization by size == | |||
Commas can theoretically have any size, beginning with the smallest ones we categorize them as follows. | |||
; [[Unnoticeable comma]]: under 3.5 cents in size. The 3.5-cent limit correlates to the limit of pitch perception (see also [[JND]]). | |||
; [[Small comma]]: between 3.5 and 30 cents. Intervals below the 30-cent limit are often considered melodically irrelevant. | |||
; [[Medium comma]]: between 30 and 100 cents. | |||
; [[Large comma]]: over over 100 cents in size. The 100-cent limit matches the 12-EDO semitone. | |||
[[Category:Comma| ]] <!-- main article --> | |||
Revision as of 10:15, 8 November 2020
A comma is a small interval that occurs in just intonation, between two intervals which are close in pitch. Commas are always greater than 1/1 (0 cents) and not a power such as a square or cube of any other interval, and generally in a low prime limit. The word is often used in reference to regular tempering when the comma is tempered out, which is to say reduced to a unison, by the temperament, thereby equating the intervals separated by that comma. For example the Syntonic or Didymus comma of 81/80, which occurs between 10/9 and 9/8, as well as 81/64 and 5/4, is tempered out by meantone temperament. Commas are usually written as ratios, but they can also be written as monzos. The following lists mostly give both forms, as well as the size in cents. The color name refers to both the comma and the temperament created when it is tempered out, except for 3-limit commas, which create edos.
Categorization by size
Commas can theoretically have any size, beginning with the smallest ones we categorize them as follows.
- Unnoticeable comma
- under 3.5 cents in size. The 3.5-cent limit correlates to the limit of pitch perception (see also JND).
- Small comma
- between 3.5 and 30 cents. Intervals below the 30-cent limit are often considered melodically irrelevant.
- Medium comma
- between 30 and 100 cents.
- Large comma
- over over 100 cents in size. The 100-cent limit matches the 12-EDO semitone.