Superpyth
Superpyth is a temperament of the archytas clan where ~3/2 is a generator, and the Archytas comma 64/63 is tempered out, so a stack of two generators octave-reduced represents 8/7 in addition to 9/8 (in other words, intervals such as A–G and C–B♭ are harmonic sevenths). Since 3/2 is a generator we can use the same standard chain-of-fifths notation that is also used for meantone and 12edo, with the understanding that sharps are sharper than flats (for example, A♯ is sharper than B♭) just like in Pythagorean tuning, in contrast to meantone where sharps are flatter than or equal to the corresponding flats. The plastic number has a value of ~486.822 cents, which, taken as a generator (~4/3) and assuming an octave period, constitutes a variety of superpyth. This can be explained since superpyth equates 21/16 and 4/3, making the 9:12:16:21 chord evenly spaced by ~4/3, and when keeping ~9 + ~12 = ~21 the generator becomes the plastic number.
Such a temperament without the 5th harmonic is also called archy. If intervals of 5 are desired, it is mapped to +9 generators through tempering out 245/243, so C-D♯ is 5/4. So superpyth is the "opposite" of septimal meantone in several different ways: Meantone (including 12edo) has 3/2 tuned flat so that the 5th harmonic's intervals are simple and the 7th harmonic's intervals are complex, while superpyth has 3/2 tuned sharp so that the 7th harmonic's intervals are simple while the 5th harmonic's intervals are complex.
If intervals of 11 are desired, the canonical way is to map 11/8 to +16 generators, or a doubly-augmented second (C–D𝄪), tempering out 100/99. Yet a simpler but reasonable way is to map it to −6 generators, or a diminished fifth (C–G♭), by tempering out 99/98. The latter is called supra, or suprapyth. The two mappings unite on 22edo.
If intervals of 13 are desired, 13/8 is mapped to +13 generators, or a doubly-augmented fourth (C–F𝄪), by tempering out 31213/31104.
Mos scales of superpyth have cardinalities of 5, 7, 12, 17, or 22.
Vector Graphics suggests the name nicetone for this temperament (as it tunes the fifth sharp as opposed to meantone which tunes it flat), though this conflicts with the term's current use for a non-MOS scale.
For more technical data, see Archytas clan #Superpyth.
Interval chains
- Archy (2.3.7)
| 1146.61 | 437.29 | 927.97 | 218.64 | 709.32 | 0 | 490.68 | 981.36 | 272.03 | 762.71 | 53.39 |
| 27/14 | 9/7 | 12/7 | 9/8~8/7 | 3/2 | 1/1 | 4/3 | 7/4~16/9 | 7/6 | 14/9 | 28/27 |
- Full 7-limit superpyth
| 613.20 | 1102.91 | 392.62 | 882.33 | 172.04 | 661.75 | 1151.46 | 441.16 | 930.87 | 220.58 | 710.29 | 0 | 489.71 | 979.42 | 269.13 | 758.84 | 48.54 | 538.25 | 1027.96 | 317.67 | 807.38 | 97.09 | 586.80 |
| 10/7 | 15/8 | 5/4 | 5/3 | 10/9 | 27/14 | 9/7 | 12/7 | 9/8~8/7 | 3/2 | 1/1 | 4/3 | 7/4~16/9 | 7/6 | 14/9 | 28/27 | 9/5 | 6/5 | 8/5 | 16/15 | 7/5 |
- Supra (2.3.7.11)
| 857.54 | 150.35 | 643.15 | 1135.96 | 428.77 | 921.58 | 214.38 | 707.19 | 0 | 492.81 | 985.62 | 278.42 | 771.23 | 64.04 | 556.85 | 1049.65 | 342.46 |
| 18/11 | 12/11 | 16/11 | 27/14 | 14/11~9/7 | 12/7 | 9/8~8/7 | 3/2 | 1/1 | 4/3 | 7/4~16/9 | 7/6 | 14/9~11/7 | 33/32~28/27 | 11/8 | 11/6 | 11/9 |
- Full 11-limit suprapyth
| 604.44 | 1094.94 | 385.45 | 875.96 | 166.46 | 656.97 | 1147.47 | 437.98 | 928.48 | 218.99 | 709.49 | 0 | 490.51 | 981.01 | 271.52 | 762.02 | 52.53 | 543.03 | 1033.54 | 324.04 | 814.55 | 105.06 | 595.56 |
| 10/7 | 15/8 | 5/4 | 18/11~5/3 | 12/11~10/9 | 16/11 | 27/14 | 14/11~9/7 | 12/7 | 9/8~8/7 | 3/2 | 1/1 | 4/3 | 7/4~16/9 | 7/6 | 14/9~11/7 | 33/32~28/27 | 11/8 | 9/5~11/6 | 6/5~11/9 | 8/5 | 16/15 | 7/5 |
Scales
- 5-note MOS (2L 3s, proper)
- Archy5 – archy in 472edo tuning
- 7-note MOS (5L 2s, improper)
In contrast to the meantone diatonic scale, the superpyth diatonic is improper.
- 12-note MOS (5L 7s, borderline improper)
The boundary of propriety is 17edo.
Tunings
Prime-optimized tunings
| Weight-skew\Order | Euclidean |
|---|---|
| Tenney | CTE: ~3/2 = 709.5948¢ |
| Weil | CWE: ~3/2 = 709.3901¢ |
| Equilateral | CEE: ~3/2 = 712.8606¢ Eigenmonzo basis (unchanged-interval basis): 2.49/3 (2/5-comma tuning) |
| Skewed-equilateral | CSEE: ~3/2 = 711.9997¢ Eigenmonzo basis (unchanged-interval basis): 2.823543/243 (7/19-comma tuning) |
| Benedetti/Wilson | CBE: ~3/2 = 707.7286¢ Eigenmonzo basis (unchanged-interval basis): 2.[0 -49 0 18⟩ (18/85-comma tuning) |
| Skewed-Benedetti/Wilson | CSBE: ~3/2 = 707.9869¢ Eigenmonzo basis (unchanged-interval basis): 2.[0 -63 25⟩ (25/113-comma tuning) |
| Weight-skew\Order | Euclidean |
|---|---|
| Tenney | CTE: ~3/2 = 709.5907¢ |
| Weil | CWE: ~3/2 = 710.1193¢ |
| Equilateral | CEE: ~3/2 = 709.7805¢ Eigenmonzo basis (unchanged-interval basis): 2.5859375/49 |
| Skewed-equilateral | CSEE: ~3/2 = 710.2428¢ Eigenmonzo basis (unchanged-interval basis): 2.[0 3 -37 18⟩ |
| Benedetti/Wilson | CBE: ~3/2 = 709.4859¢ Eigenmonzo basis (unchanged-interval basis): 2.[0 -1225 -3969 450⟩ |
| Skewed-Benedetti/Wilson | CSBE: ~3/2 = 710.0321¢ Eigenmonzo basis (unchanged-interval basis): 2.[0 665 -15771 5160⟩ |
Tuning spectrum
| Edo Generator |
Eigenmonzo (Unchanged-interval) |
Generator (¢) |
Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3/2 | 701.955 | Pythagorean tuning | |
| 10\17 | 705.882 | Lower bound of 7- and 9-odd-limit diamond monotone | |
| 81/56 | 706.499 | 1/6 comma | |
| 27/14 | 707.408 | 1/5 comma | |
| 23\39 | 707.692 | ||
| 9/7 | 708.771 | 1/4 comma, {1, 3, 7, 9} minimax | |
| 15/8 | 708.807 | ||
| 13\22 | 709.091 | ||
| 5/4 | 709.590 | 9-odd-limit minimax | |
| 49/27 | 709.745 | 2/7 comma | |
| 15/14 | 709.954 | ||
| 25/24 | 710.040 | ||
| 29\49 | 710.204 | ||
| 5/3 | 710.545 | ||
| 7/5 | 710.681 | 7-odd-limit minimax | |
| 7/6 | 711.043 | 1/3 comma, {1, 3, 7} minimax | |
| 16\27 | 711.111 | ||
| 21/20 | 711.553 | ||
| 9/5 | 711.772 | ||
| 19\32 | 712.500 | ||
| 49/48 | 712.861 | 2/5 comma, 2.3.7 subgroup CEE tuning | |
| 22\37 | 713.514 | ||
| 25\42 | 714.286 | ||
| 7/4 | 715.587 | 1/2 comma | |
| 3\5 | 720.000 | Upper bound of 7- and 9-odd-limit diamond monotone | |
| 21/16 | 729.219 | Full comma |
Music
- Superpyth[12] chromatic riff (2015)
- Trio in Superpyth Temperament for Irish Whistle, Piano, and Cello (2015)
Both in 22edo tuning
- 12of22studyPentUp4thsMstr[dead link]
- 12of22gamelan1b[dead link]
- 12of22study3 (children's story)[dead link]
- 12of22study7[dead link]
All in superpyth[12] in 22edo tuning.