Subfifth
A subfifth is an interval too narrow to sound like a perfect fifth and too wide to sound like a tritone. It is a peculiar interval in that it has a range of producing a massive amount of overtones to the point of heavily distorting the timbre of any instrument that it is played on. The interval is normally considered a 16/11 and is quite harsh regardless of timbre, but some are worse than others. Regardless of what the name suggests, a subfifth isn't really a type of perfect fifth but rather can be thought of as related to the tritone, however, the interval really is a class in it's own right.
The subfifth has a xen appeal because it is a sound that is so far from anything possible in 12edo or 5-limit just intonation that it resembles the very essence of the term "out of tune". Anyone who does not enjoy rough intervals will hate this interval range with a passion. This is for those who can find beauty in the harsh and dissonant.
See also
- Superfourth — the octave complement region
| View • Talk • EditInterval classification | |
|---|---|
| Interval regions | |
| Unison and octave | Unison • Comma and diesis • Octave |
| Seconds | Minor second • Neutral second • Major second |
| Thirds | Minor third • Neutral third • Major third |
| Fourths and fifths | Perfect fourth • Superfourth • Tritone • Subfifth • Perfect fifth |
| Sixths | Minor sixth • Neutral sixth • Major sixth |
| Sevenths | Minor seventh • Neutral seventh • Major seventh |
| Interseptimal intervals | Interseptimal 2nd-3rd • Interseptimal 3rd-4th • Interseptimal 5th-6th • Interseptimal 6th-7th |
| Interval qualities | |
| Diatonic qualities | Diminished • Minor • Perfect • Major • Augmented |
| Tuning ranges | Neutral (interval quality) • Submajor and supraminor • Pental major and minor • Novamajor and novaminor • Neogothic major and minor • Supermajor and subminor • Ultramajor and inframinor |