Interleaving

A scale is (k-)flought if it is made of k > 1 copies (called strands) of an n-note scale, where any two copies are interleaved so that any note of the first copy falls between two notes of the other copy, and vice versa. The set of offsets that separate the strands from a fixed strand is a chord called the polyoffset. The concept of flought scales is a generalization of dipentatonic scales and generator-offset scales. Blackdye, Zil[14], and bicycle are examples of flought scales, because they each have two interleaved strands, respectively Pyth[5], Zarlino, and 8:9:10:11:13:14. The terminology, however, is intended to cover any number of strands and any choice of strand scale.

The term flought was coined by Inthar by evolving the Old English past participle (ġe)flohten of the verb fleohtan 'to weave; to plait' to Modern English. It is cognate to the Modern English words plait and plexus.