Pythagorean comma

Revision as of 13:00, 8 May 2022 by Eliora (talk | contribs)

The Pythagorean or ditonic comma is the interval with the ratio 531441/524288 (= [-19 12). It could also be called the 12-comma as it is the amount by which twelve fifths exceed seven octaves, or in other words (3/2)12/27 and it also can be written as the ratio between the apotome and the Pythagorean minor second, (2187/2048)/(256/243). In addition, it also equates six 9/8 major seconds with an octave.

Interval information
Ratio 531441/524288
Factorization 2-19 × 312
Monzo [-19 12
Size in cents 23.46001¢
Names Pythagorean comma,
ditonic comma
Color name LLw-2, Lalawa comma
FJS name [math]\displaystyle{ \text{d}{-2} }[/math]
Special properties reduced,
reduced harmonic
Tenney norm (log2 nd) 38.0196
Weil norm (log2 max(n, d)) 38.0391
Wilson norm (sopfr(nd)) 74
Open this interval in xen-calc

Temperament

Tempering out this comma leads to the Pythagorean family of temperaments. For EDOs up to 300, it is tempered out if and only if the EDO is a multiple of 12, and hence for instance by 12edo, 24edo, 72edo and 84edo.

See also