General theory
Here are some links to some of the key ideas underlying tuning:
Basics
- Start here: Xen concepts for beginners
- Interval
- Ratio
- Cent
- Chords
- Scales
- Modes
- Musical notation
Core concepts
- Harmonic series
- Just intonation
- Equal division of the octave
- Equal division of the tritave
- Equal-step tuning
- Arithmetic tuning
- Regular temperaments
- Periods and generators
- Periodic scale
- MOS scale
- Diatonic, Chromatic, Enharmonic, Subchromatic
- Well temperament
- Chord of nature
- Hexany
Online tools
- Scale Workshop – scale-creation site by Lumi Pakkanen. Allows playing via QWERTY computer keyboard. Can also export .scl and .kbm files.
- Xenpaper – text-based microtonal sequencer, like a notepad. Write down musical ideas and share the link around.
- xen-calc – interval calculator that translates to/from ratios, cents, FJS and color notation, much more too.
Common scales
- Category: 5-tone scales
- Category: 6-tone scales
- Category: 7-tone scales
- Category: 8-tone scales
- Category: 9-tone scales
- Category: 10-tone scales
- Category: 11-tone scales
- Category: 12-tone scales
Regular temperament theory (RTT)
- Monzo
- Val
- Mapping
- Patent val
- Tempering out
- Rank and codimension
- Keenan's explanation of vals
- Comma pump
- Comma basis
- Saturation, torsion, and contorsion
- Delta-N ratio
- Essentially tempered chords
- Essential tempering commas
- Graham complexity
- Lumma stability
- Distributional evenness
- Consonant class scale
- Maximum variety
- Modal UDP Notation