Graph-theoretic properties of scales
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[[toc|flat]]
=Graph of a scale=
Given a [[periodic scale]], meaning a scale whose steps repeat, and assuming some multiple of the period is an interval of equivalence (usually this means the octave, ie interval of 2, which from now on we will assume is the interval of equivalence) then we may reduce the scale to a finite set S of pitch classes. This relates to the usual way of defining a scale, as used for instance by [[Scala]]. If we say 1-9/8-5/4-4/3-3/2-5/3-15/8-2 is a scale, we mean that each step of it represents a class of octave-equivalent pitches, so that "5/4" represents {...5/8, 5/4, 5/2, 5, 10 ...} and both "1" and "2" mean {...1/4, 1/2, 1, 2, 4...}. Suppose we have a finite set of pitches C strictly within the octave, so that s∊C entails 1 < s < 2, and suppose if s∊C then also 2/s∊C. The elements of C represent consonant pitch classes exclusive of the unison-octave class.
We now may define the **graph of the scale**, which more precisely is the graph G = G(S, C) of the scale S together with the consonance set C. This means G is a (simple) [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graph_(mathematics)|graph]] in the sense of [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graph_theory|graph theory]]. The vertices of G, V(G), is the set S of pitch classes, and an edge is drawn between two distinct pitch classes r and s if the pitch class X⋂C ≠ ∅, where X = {x/y|x∊r, y∊s}. This means that there is a relation of consonance, as defined by C, between the pitch classes r and s.Original HTML content:
<html><head><title>Graph-theoretic properties of scales</title></head><body><!-- ws:start:WikiTextTocRule:2:<img id="wikitext@@toc@@flat" class="WikiMedia WikiMediaTocFlat" title="Table of Contents" src="/site/embedthumbnail/toc/flat?w=100&h=16"/> --><!-- ws:end:WikiTextTocRule:2 --><!-- ws:start:WikiTextTocRule:3: --><a href="#Graph of a scale">Graph of a scale</a><!-- ws:end:WikiTextTocRule:3 --><!-- ws:start:WikiTextTocRule:4: -->
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<!-- ws:start:WikiTextHeadingRule:0:<h1> --><h1 id="toc0"><a name="Graph of a scale"></a><!-- ws:end:WikiTextHeadingRule:0 -->Graph of a scale</h1>
Given a <a class="wiki_link" href="/periodic%20scale">periodic scale</a>, meaning a scale whose steps repeat, and assuming some multiple of the period is an interval of equivalence (usually this means the octave, ie interval of 2, which from now on we will assume is the interval of equivalence) then we may reduce the scale to a finite set S of pitch classes. This relates to the usual way of defining a scale, as used for instance by <a class="wiki_link" href="/Scala">Scala</a>. If we say 1-9/8-5/4-4/3-3/2-5/3-15/8-2 is a scale, we mean that each step of it represents a class of octave-equivalent pitches, so that "5/4" represents {...5/8, 5/4, 5/2, 5, 10 ...} and both "1" and "2" mean {...1/4, 1/2, 1, 2, 4...}. Suppose we have a finite set of pitches C strictly within the octave, so that s∊C entails 1 < s < 2, and suppose if s∊C then also 2/s∊C. The elements of C represent consonant pitch classes exclusive of the unison-octave class. <br />
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We now may define the <strong>graph of the scale</strong>, which more precisely is the graph G = G(S, C) of the scale S together with the consonance set C. This means G is a (simple) <a class="wiki_link_ext" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graph_(mathematics)" rel="nofollow">graph</a> in the sense of <a class="wiki_link_ext" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graph_theory" rel="nofollow">graph theory</a>. The vertices of G, V(G), is the set S of pitch classes, and an edge is drawn between two distinct pitch classes r and s if the pitch class X⋂C ≠ ∅, where X = {x/y|x∊r, y∊s}. This means that there is a relation of consonance, as defined by C, between the pitch classes r and s.</body></html>