Logarithmic phi

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Interval information
Expression [math]\displaystyle{ 2^{\varphi} = 2^{\frac{1+\sqrt{5} } {2} } }[/math]
Size in cents 1941.641¢
Name logarithmic phi

Logarithmic phi, or [math]\displaystyle{ \varphi }[/math] octaves = 1941.6 cents (or, octave-reduced, 741.6 cents) is useful as a generator, for example in Erv Wilson's "Golden Horagrams". As a frequency relation it is [math]\displaystyle{ 2^{\varphi} }[/math], or [math]\displaystyle{ 2^{\varphi - 1} = 2^{1/\varphi} }[/math] when octave-reduced. Logarithmic phi is notable for being the most difficult interval to approximate by edos, and as such a "small equal division of logarithmic phi" nonoctave tuning would minimize pseudo-octaves.

Logarithmic phi is not to be confused with acoustic phi, which is 833.1 ¢.

Logarithmic phi is well-approximated in equal divisions of the octave corresponding to the Fibonacci sequence: 8edo, 13edo, 21edo, 34edo, 55edo, etc.

Approximation

Edo approximations for Logarithmic phi (741.60 ¢)
≤ 80edo, relative error ≤ 10%
Edo Step size Cents (¢) Absolute error (¢) Relative error (%)
5 3\5 720.00 -21.60 -9.00
8 5\8 750.00 +8.40 +5.60
13 8\13 738.46 -3.14 -3.40
21 13\21 742.86 +1.25 +2.19
26 16\26 738.46 -3.14 -6.81
29 18\29 744.83 +3.22 +7.79
34 21\34 741.18 -0.43 -1.21
42 26\42 742.86 +1.25 +4.38
47 29\47 740.43 -1.18 -4.62
50 31\50 744.00 +2.40 +9.98
55 34\55 741.82 +0.21 +0.98
60 37\60 740.00 -1.60 -8.02
63 39\63 742.86 +1.25 +6.58
68 42\68 741.18 -0.43 -2.42
76 47\76 742.11 +0.50 +3.17

See also

The MOS patterns generated by logarithmic phi
Related regular temperaments
Music