Supermajor and subminor
The interval qualities "supermajor" and "subminor" essentially refer to intervals sharper than major and flatter than minor, respectively; a supermajor interval is sharper than the corresponding ~12edo interval by approximately a sixth-tone or diesis, and a subminor interval is flat of the corresponding ~12edo interval by approximately a sixth-tone or diesis.
In just intonation
In some notations and interval naming systems for just intonation, "supermajor" and "subminor" indicate sharping or flatting by a specific predefined comma, such as 64/63 (to reach septimal intervals), 81/80 (to reach acute and grave intervals), or 2048/2025 (to reach 5-limit supermajor and subminor intervals).
In other notations
In, say, 41edo or 53edo (or other similar systems), "upmajor" corresponds to "supermajor", and "downminor" to "subminor". Here is a rough list of EDOs where this is true in regards to thirds (i.e. the (anti)diatonic major third is >370c and <415c and the upmajor third is >425c and <460c). The restriction on normal major thirds is placed to ensure that the chosen diatonic major thirds are not already within the supermajor range.
| EDO | Major | Upmajor/supermajor |
|---|---|---|
| 16 | 375 | 450 |
| 19 | 379 | 442 |
| 24 | 400 | 450 |
| 25b | 384 | 432 |
| 29 | 414 | 455 |
| 31 | 387 | 426 |
| 32 | 413 | 450 |
| 36 | 400 | 433 |
| 41 | 410 | 439 |
| 48 | 400 | 425 |
| 53 | 408 | 430 |
| 58 | 414 | 434 |
| 70 | 411 | 429 |
| 87 | 414 | 427 |
Similarly, as mentioned, diatonic thirds can be supermajor, and thus other diatonic intervals supermajor or subminor:
With our previously established supermajor range, this corresponds to a diatonic fifth of >706.25 cents and <415 cents; here are all EDOs which have that as a patent val fifth, excluding contorted EDOs (i.e. those which have the same fifth as a smaller EDO).
| EDO | Major |
|---|---|
| 22 | 436 |
| 27 | 444 |
| 32 | 450 |
| 37 | 454 |
| 39 | 431 |
| 42 | 457 |
| 49 | 441 |
| 56 | 429 |
| 59 | 447 |
| 61 | 433 |
| 71 | 439 |
| 73 | 427 |
| 83 | 434 |
| 90 | 426 |
| 95 | 430 |
| 107 | 426 |
| 124 | 426 |