19edo

Prime factorization

19 (prime)

Step size

63.1579¢

Fifth

11\19 (694.737¢)

Semitones (A1:m2)

1:2 (63.16¢ : 126.3¢)

Consistency limit

9

Distinct consistency limit

5

19 equal divisions of the octave (19edo), or 19(-tone) equal temperament (19tet, 19et) when viewed from a regular temperament perspective, is the tuning system derived by dividing the octave into 19 equally large steps. Each step represents a frequency ratio of the 19th root of 2, or about 63.2 cents.

Theory

History

Interest in this tuning system goes back to the sixteenth century, when composer Guillaume Costeley used it in his chanson Seigneur Dieu ta pitié of 1558. Costeley understood and desired the circulating aspect of this tuning, which he defined as dividing the just major second into three approximately equal parts. Costeley had other compositions that made use of intervals, such as the diminished third, which have a meaningful context in 19edo, but not in other tuning systems contemporary with the work.

In 1577 music theorist Francisco de Salinas proposed 1/3-comma meantone, in which the fifth is of size 694.786 cents; the fifth of 19edo is 694.737, which is only a twentieth of a cent flatter. Salinas suggested tuning nineteen tones to the octave to this tuning, which fails to close by less than a cent, so that his suggestion is effectively 19edo.

In 1835, mathematician and music theorist Wesley Woolhouse proposed it as a more practical alternative to meantone tunings he regarded as better, such as 50 equal temperament (summary of Woolhouse's essay).

As an approximation of other temperaments

The most salient characteristic of 19et is that, having an almost just minor third and perfect fifths and major thirds about seven cents narrow, it serves as a good tuning for meantone temperament. It is also suitable for magic/muggles temperament, because five of its major thirds are equivalent to one of its twelfths. For all of these there are more optimal tunings: the fifth of 19et is flatter than the usual for meantone, and a more accurate approximation is 31 equal temperament. Similarly, the generating interval of magic temperament is a major third, and again 19edo's is flatter; 41 equal temperament more closely matches it. It does make for a good tuning for muggles, which in 19edo is the same as magic. 19edo's 7-step supermajor third can be used for sensi, whose generator is a very sharp major third, two of which make an approximate 5/3 minor sixth, though 27edo and 46edo are better sensi tunings for the 13-limit approximations of sensi.

However, for all of these 19et has the practical advantage of requiring fewer pitches, which makes physical realizations of it easier to build. (Many 19et instruments have been built.) 19et is in fact the second equal temperament, after 12et which is able to deal with 5-limit music in a tolerable manner, and is the fifth (after 12) zeta integral edo. It is less successful with 7-limit (but still better than 12et), as it eliminates the distinction between a septimal minor third (7/6), and a septimal whole tone (8/7). 19edo also has the advantage of being excellent for negri, keemun, godzilla, magic/muggles and triton/liese, and fairly decent for sensi. Keemun and negri are of particular note for being very simple 7-limit temperaments, with their mos scales in 19edo offering a great abundance of septimal tetrads. The Graham complexity of a 7-limit tetrad is 6 for keemun, 7 for negri, 8 for godzilla, 10 for meantone, 11 for triton, 12 for magic/muggles and 13 for sensi.

Being a zeta integral tuning, the 13-limit is represented relatively well, though only the 2.3.5.7.13 subgroup is represented consistently. Practically 19edo can be used adaptively on instruments which allow you to bend notes up: by different amounts, the 3rd, 5th, 7th and 13th harmonics are all tuned flat. The same cannot be said of 12edo, in which the 5th and 7th are - not only farther than they are in 19, but fairly sharp already. 19edo's negri, sensi and semaphore scales have many 13-limit chords. (You can think of the sensi[8] 3L 5s mos scale as 19edo's answer to the diminished scale. Both are made of two diminished seventh chords, but sensi[8] gives you additional ratios of 7 and 13.)

Another option would be to use a stretched octave; the zeta function-optimal tuning has an octave of roughly 1203 cents. Stringed instruments, in particular the piano, are frequently tuned with stretched octaves anyway due to the inharmonicity inherent in strings, which makes 19edo a promising option for them. Octave stretching also means that an out-of-tune interval can be replaced with a compounded or inverted version of it which is near-just. For instance, if we are using 93ed30 (a variant of 19edo in which 30:1 is just), then we have near-just minor thirds (6:5), compound major thirds (as 5:1), and compound fifths (as 6:1), giving us versions of everything in the 5-limit tonality diamond. The compound major and minor triads (1:5:6 and 30:6:5) are near-just as well.

As a means of extending harmony

Because 19edo allows for more blended, consonant harmonies than 12edo does, it can be a much better candidate for using alternate forms of harmony such as quartal, secundal, and poly chords. William Lynch suggests the use of seventh chords of various types to be the fundamental sonorities with a triad deemed as incomplete. Higher extensions involving the 7th harmonic as well as other non diatonic chord extensions which tend to clash in 12edo blend much better in 19edo.

In addition, Joseph Yasser talks about the idea of a 12 tone supra diatonic scale where the 7 tone major scale in 19edo becomes akin to the pentatonic of western music; as it would sound to a future generation, ambiguous and not tonally fortified. As paraphrased "A system in which the undeniable laws of tonal gravity exist, yet in a much more complex tonal universe." Yasser believed that music would eventually move to a 19-tone system with a 12-note supra diatonic scale would become the standard. While this has yet to happen, Yasser's concept of supra-diatonicity is intriguing and worth exploring for those wanting to extend tonality without sounding too alien.

19edo also closely approximates most of the intervals of Bozuji tuning (a 21st century tuning based on Gioseffo Zarlino's approach to just intonation). with most of the adjacent diatonic diminished and augmented intervals of Bozuji tuning represented enharmonically by one interval in 19edo.

The narrow whole tones and wide diatonic semitones of 19edo give the diatonic scale a somewhat duller quality, but has the opposite effect on the pentatonic scale, which becomes much more expressive owing to the larger contrast between the narrow whole tone and wide minor third. While 12edo has an expressive diatonic and dull pentatonic, the reverse is true in 19. Pentatonicism thus becomes more important in 19edo, and one option is to use the pentatonic scale as a sort of "super-chord", with "chord progressions" being modulations between pentatonic subsets of the superdiatonic scale.

Prime harmonics

Approximation of prime harmonics in 19edo
Harmonic		2	3	5	7	11	13	17	19	23	29
Error	absolute (¢)	+0.0	-7.2	-7.4	-21.5	+17.1	-19.5	+21.4	+18.3	+3.3	-19.1
Error	relative (%)	+0	-11	-12	-34	+27	-31	+34	+29	+5	-30
Steps (reduced)		19 (0)	30 (11)	44 (6)	53 (15)	66 (9)	70 (13)	78 (2)	81 (5)	86 (10)	92 (16)

Miscellaneous properties

19edo is the 8th prime edo, following 17edo and preceding 23edo.

Intervals

Standard 12edo notation can be used, whether it is staff notation (with five lines), letter notation (with standard accidentals), solfege, or sargam. Note that D# and Eb are two different notes.

Degree	Cents	Interval			Solfege	Dodecatonic notation	Ratios*
0	0.00	unison	P1	D	Do	P1	1/1
1	63.16	aug 1sn, dim 2nd	A1, d2	D#, Ebb	Di/Ro	A1, m2	25/24, 28/27, 26/25
2	126.32	minor 2nd	m2	Eb	Ra	M2, m3	15/14, 16/15, 13/12, 14/13
3	189.47	major 2nd	M2	E	Re	M3	9/8, 10/9, 125/112
4	252.63	aug 2nd, dim 3rd	A2, d3	E#, Fb	Ri/Ma	m4, a3	7/6, 8/7, 15/13
5	315.79	minor 3rd	m3	F	Me	M4, m5	6/5
6	378.95	major 3rd	M3	F#	Mi	M5	5/4, 16/13, 56/45
7	442.11	aug 3rd, dim 4th	A3, d4	Fx, Gb	Mo/Fe	A5, d6	32/25, 9/7, 13/10
8	505.26	perfect 4th	P4	G	Fa	P6	4/3, 75/56
9	568.42	aug 4th	A4	G#	Fi	A6, m7	25/18, 7/5, 18/13
10	631.58	dim 5th	d5	Ab	Se	M7, d8	36/25, 10/7, 13/9
11	694.74	perfect 5th	P5	A	So	P8	3/2, 112/75
12	757.89	aug 5th, dim 6th	A5, d6	A#, Bbb	Si/Lo	A8, m9	25/16, 14/9, 20/13
13	821.05	minor 6th	m6	Bb	Le	M9, m10	8/5, 13/8, 45/28
14	884.21	major 6th	M6	B	La	M10	5/3
15	947.37	aug 6th, dim 7th	A6, d7	B#, Cb	Li/Ta	m11, A10	7/4, 12/7, 26/15
16	1010.53	minor 7th	m7	C	Te	M11, m12	9/5, 16/9, 224/125
17	1073.68	major 7th	M7	C#	Ti	M12	15/8, 13/7, 28/15, 24/13
18	1136.84	aug 7th, dim 8ve	A7, d8	Cx, Db	To/Da	A12, d13	48/25, 27/14, 25/13
19	1200.00	perfect 8ve	P8	D	Do	P13	2/1

* based on treating 19edo as a 2.3.5.7.13 subgroup temperament; other approaches are possible.

Using color notation, qualities can be loosely associated with colors:

quality	color name	monzo format	examples
diminished	zo	(a, b, 0, 1)	7/6, 7/4
minor	fourthward wa	(a, b), b < -1	32/27, 16/9
minor	gu	(a, b, -1)	6/5, 9/5
major	yo	(a, b, 1)	5/4, 5/3
major	fifthward wa	(a, b), b > 1	9/8, 27/16
augmented	ru	(a, b, 0, -1)	9/7, 12/7

Key signatures are the same, but with the extra notes and different enharmonic equivalents, some key signatures can get messy. For example, the key of Bbb would have double-flats on B and E, and flats on C, D, F, G, and A. Thinking of rewriting this key as A# might seem better, but then the key signature would contain double-sharps on C, F, and G, and sharps on A, B, D, and E, which is actually worse.

Chord names

All 19edo chords can be named using conventional methods, expanded to include augmented and diminished 2nd, 3rds, 6ths and 7ths. Here are the zo, gu, yo and ru triads:

color of the 3rd	JI chord	edosteps	notes of C chord	written name	spoken name
zo	6:7:9	0-4-11	C Ebb G	C(b3) or C(d3)	C flat-three or C dim-three
gu	10:12:15	0-5-11	C Eb G	Cm	C minor
yo	4:5:6	0-6-11	C E G	C	C major or C
ru	14:18:21	0-7-11	C E# G	C(#3) or C(A3)	C sharp-three or C aug-three

0-6-11-15 = C E G Bbb = C,d7 = C add dim-seven or C major dim-seven = 4:5:6:7

0-5-11-15 = C Eb G A# is Cm#6 or CmA6 = C minor sharp-six or C minor aug-six = 1/(4:5:6:7) = 1/1 - 6/5 - 3/2 - 12/7

The last two chords illustrate how the 15\19 interval can be considered as either 7/4 or 12/7, and how 19edo tends to conflate zo and ru ratios.

For a more complete list, see 19edo Chord Names and Ups and Downs Notation #Chords and Chord Progressions.

JI approximation

15-odd-limit interval mappings

The following table shows how 15-odd-limit intervals are represented in 19edo. Prime harmonics are in bold; inconsistent intervals are in italic.

15-odd-limit intervals by direct approximation (even if inconsistent)
Interval, complement	Error (abs, ¢)	Error (rel, %)
6/5, 5/3	0.148	0.2
14/13, 13/7	1.982	3.1
15/13, 26/15	4.891	7.7
18/13, 13/9	5.039	8.0
15/14, 28/15	6.873	10.9
9/7, 14/9	7.021	11.1
10/9, 9/5	7.070	11.2
4/3, 3/2	7.218	11.4
5/4, 8/5	7.366	11.7
13/10, 20/13	12.109	19.2
13/12, 24/13	12.257	19.4
7/5, 10/7	14.091	22.3
7/6, 12/7	14.239	22.5
9/8, 16/9	14.436	22.9
16/15, 15/8	14.585	23.1
11/8, 16/11	17.103	27.1
16/13, 13/8	19.475	30.8
8/7, 7/4	21.457	34.0
12/11, 11/6	24.321	38.5
11/10, 20/11	24.469	38.7
14/11, 11/7	24.597	38.9
13/11, 22/13	26.580	42.1
15/11, 22/15	31.470	49.8
11/9, 18/11	31.539	49.9

15-odd-limit intervals by patent val mapping
Interval, complement	Error (abs, ¢)	Error (rel, %)
1/1, 2/1	0.000	0.0
5/3, 6/5	0.148	0.2
13/7, 14/13	1.982	3.1
15/13, 26/15	4.891	7.7
13/9, 18/13	5.039	8.0
15/14, 28/15	6.873	10.9
9/7, 14/9	7.021	11.1
9/5, 10/9	7.070	11.2
3/2, 4/3	7.218	11.4
5/4, 8/5	7.366	11.7
13/10, 20/13	12.109	19.2
13/12, 24/13	12.257	19.4
7/5, 10/7	14.091	22.3
7/6, 12/7	14.239	22.5
9/8, 16/9	14.436	22.9
15/8, 16/15	14.585	23.1
11/8, 16/11	17.103	27.1
13/8, 16/13	19.475	30.8
7/4, 8/7	21.457	34.0
11/6, 12/11	24.321	38.5
11/10, 20/11	24.469	38.7
11/9, 18/11	31.539	49.9
15/11, 22/15	31.688	50.2
13/11, 22/13	36.578	57.9
11/7, 14/11	38.561	61.1

Selected 17-limit intervals

Regular temperament properties

Subgroup	Comma list	Mapping	Optimal 8ve stretch (¢)	Tuning error
Subgroup	Comma list	Mapping	Optimal 8ve stretch (¢)	Absolute (¢)	Relative (%)
2.3	[-30 19⟩	[⟨19 30]]	+2.28	2.28	3.61
2.3.5	81/80, 3125/3072	[⟨19 30 44]]	+2.58	1.91	3.02
2.3.5.7	49/48, 81/80, 126/125	[⟨19 30 44 53]]	+3.85	2.76	4.35
2.3.5.7.13	49/48, 65/64, 81/80, 91/90	[⟨19 30 44 53 70]]	+4.14	2.53	3.99

19et is lower in relative error than any previous equal temperaments in the 5-, 7-, 13-, 17-, and 19-limit – both 19 and 19e val achieve this in the case of 13-limit, 19eg val in the 17-limit, and 19egh val in the 19-limit. The next ETs doing better in those subgroups are 34, 31, 27e, 22, and 26, respectively.

19et is prominent in the 2.3.5.7.13 subgroup, and the next ET that does better in this is 53.

Commas

19et tempers out the following commas. (Note: This assumes the val ⟨19 30 44 53 66 70].)

Prime Limit	Ratio^[1]	Monzo	Cents	Color Name	Name
5	16875/16384	[-14 3 4⟩	51.12	Laquadyo	Negri comma
5	3125/3072	[-10 -1 5⟩	29.61	Laquinyo	Magic comma
5	81/80	[-4 4 -1⟩	21.51	Gu	Syntonic comma
5	78732/78125	[2 9 -7⟩	13.40	Sepgu	Sensipent comma
5	15625/15552	[-6 -5 6⟩	8.11	Tribiyo	Kleisma
5	(20 digits)	[8 14 -13⟩	5.29	Thegu	Parakleisma
5	(28 digits)	[-14 -19 19⟩	2.82	Neyo	Enneadeca
7	1029/1000	[-3 1 -3 3⟩	49.49	Trizogu	Keega
7	525/512	[-9 1 2 1⟩	43.41	Lazoyoyo	Avicennma
7	49/48	[-4 -1 0 2⟩	35.70	Zozo	Slendro diesis
7	686/675	[1 -3 -2 3⟩	27.99	Trizo-agugu	Senga
7	875/864	[-5 -3 3 1⟩	21.90	Zotrigu	Keema
7	245/243	[0 -5 1 2⟩	14.19	Zozoyo	Sensamagic
7	126/125	[1 2 -3 1⟩	13.79	Zotrigu	Starling comma
7	225/224	[-5 2 2 -1⟩	7.71	Ruyoyo	Marvel comma
7	19683/19600	[-4 9 -2 -2⟩	7.32	Labirugu	Cataharry
7	10976/10935	[5 -7 -1 3⟩	6.48	Satrizo-agu	Hemimage
7	3136/3125	[6 0 -5 2⟩	6.08	Zozoquingu	Hemimean
7	(12 digits)	[-11 2 7 -3⟩	1.63	Latriru-asepyo	Meter
7	4375/4374	[-1 -7 4 1⟩	0.40	Zoquadyo	Ragisma
11	100/99	[2 -2 2 0 -1⟩	17.40	Luyoyo	Ptolemisma
11	896/891	[7 -4 0 1 -1⟩	9.69	Saluzo	Pentacircle
11	65536/65219	[16 0 0 -2 -3⟩	8.39	Satrilu-aruru	Orgonisma
11	385/384	[-7 -1 1 1 1⟩	4.50	Lozoyo	Keenanisma
11	540/539	[2 3 1 -2 -1⟩	3.21	Lururuyo	Swetisma
13	65/64	[-6 0 1 0 0 1⟩	26.84	Thoyo	Wilsorma
13	343/338	[-1 0 0 3 0 -2⟩	25.42	Thuthutrizo
13	91/90	[-1 -2 -1 1 0 1⟩	19.13	Thozogu	Superleap
13	676/675	[2 -3 -2 0 0 2⟩	2.56	Bithogu	Island comma

↑ Ratios longer than 10 digits are presented by placeholders with informative hints

Linear temperaments

Since 19 is prime, all rank-2 temperaments in 19edo have one period per octave (i.e. are linear). Therefore you can make a correspondence between intervals and the linear temperaments they generate.

Degree	Cents	Interval	MOSes	Generator for
1	63.16	A1, d2		Unicorn / rhinocerus
2	126.32	m2	1L 8s, 9L 1s	Negri
3	189.47	M2	1L 5s, 6L 1s, 6L 7s	Deutone Spell
4	252.63	A2, d3	1L 3s, 4L 1s, 5L 4s, 5L 9s	Semaphore / godzilla
5	315.79	m3	3L 1s, 4L 3s, 4L 7s, 4L 11s	Hanson / keemun / catakleismic
6	378.95	M3	3L 1s, 3L 4s, 3L 7s, 3L 10s, 3L 13s	Magic
7	442.11	A3, d4	3L 2s, 3L 5s, 8L 3s	Sensipent / BPS / sensi
8	505.26	P4	2L 3s, 5L 2s, 7L 5s	Meantone / flattone
9	568.42	A4	2L 3s, 2L 5s, 2L 7s, 2L 9s, 2L 11s, 2L 13s, 2L 15s	Lee / liese / pycnic Triton