Mavila family
- This is a list showing technical temperament data. For an explanation of what information is shown here, you may look at the technical data guide for regular temperaments.
The mavila family of temperaments tempers out 135/128, the mavila comma, also known as the major chroma or major limma. The 5-limit temperament is mavila, so named after the Chopi village where it was discovered, and is the base from which higher limit temperaments are derived. The generator for all of these is a very flat fifth, lying on the spectrum between 7edo and 9edo.
One of the most salient and characteristic features of mavila temperaments is that when you stack 4 of the tempered fifths you get to a minor third instead of the usual major third that you would get if the fifths were pure. This also means that the arrangement of small and large steps in a 7-note mavila scale is the inverse of a diatonic scale of 2 small steps and 5 large steps; mavila has 2 large steps and 5 small steps (see 2L 5s).
Another salient feature of mavila temperaments is the fact that 9-note mos scales may be produced, thus giving us three different mos scales to choose from that are not decidedly chromatic in nature (5-, 7-, and 9-note scales). This is reflected in the design of the 9 + 7 layout of the Goldsmith keyboard for 16-tone equal temperament (see 7L 2s).
Mavila
Subgroup: 2.3.5
Comma list: 135/128
Mapping: [⟨1 0 7], ⟨0 1 -3]]
- mapping generators: ~2, ~3
- CTE: ~2 = 1200.000, ~3/2 = 677.145
- error map: ⟨0.000 -24.810 -17.749]
- POTE: ~2 = 1200.000, ~3/2 = 679.806
- error map: ⟨0.000 -22.149 -25.732]
- 5-odd-limit diamond monotone: ~3/2 = [600.000, 685.714] (1\2 to 4\7)
- 5-odd-limit diamond tradeoff: ~3/2 = [671.229, 701.955] (1/3-comma to Pyth.)
Optimal ET sequence: 7, 9, 16, 23, 30bc
Badness: 0.039556
Overview to extensions
7-limit extensions
The second comma of the normal comma list defines which 7-limit family member we are looking at. That means 36/35 for armodue, 126/125 for mavling, 21/20 for pelogic, 875/864 for hornbostel, 49/48 for superpelog, 50/49 for bipelog, and 1323/1250 for mohavila.
Temperaments discussed elsewhere include
- Medusa (+15/14) → Very low accuracy temperaments
- Wallaby (+28/27) → Very low accuracy temperaments
- Superpelog (+49/48) → Semaphoresmic clan
- Clyndro (+360/343) → Gamelismic clan
- Jamesbond (+25/24) → 7th-octave temperaments
Considered below are mavling, pelogic, armodue, hornbostel, bipelog, and mohavila.
Subgroup extensions
Mavila naturally extends to the 2.3.5.11 subgroup, with the generator standing in for ~16/11 and ~22/15, as is given right below.
2.3.5.11 subgroup
Subgroup: 2.3.5.11
Comma list: 33/32, 45/44
Sval mapping: [⟨1 0 7 5], ⟨0 1 -3 -1]]
Gencom mapping: [⟨1 0 7 0 5], ⟨0 1 -3 0 -1]]
- gencom: [2 3; 33/32, 45/44]
Optimal ET sequence: 7, 16, 23e, 30bce
RMS error: 4.705 cents
Armodue
Armodue, also known as hexadecimal, is the main 7-limit extension of mavila, and also the main temperament of Armodue theory. It tempers out 36/35, and can be described as the 7 & 9 temperament. 7/4 is mapped to the minor seventh of the antidiatonic scale, where we will find 9/5 in the 5-limit. 16edo shows us an obvious tuning.
The name armodue has been established in 2011 thanks to Mike Battaglia[1]. The alternative name hexadecimal was attested as early as 2004[2][3].
Subgroup: 2.3.5.7
Comma list: 36/35, 135/128
Mapping: [⟨1 0 7 -5], ⟨0 1 -3 5]]
- mapping generators: ~2, ~3
- CTE: ~2 = 1200.000, ~3/2 = 675.099
- error map: ⟨0.000 -26.856 -11.610 +6.668]
- POTE: ~2 = 1200.000, ~3/2 = 673.997
- error map: ⟨0.000 -27.958 -8.304 +1.158]
- 7-odd-limit diamond monotone: ~3/2 = [666.667, 675.000] (5\9 to 9\16)
- 7-odd-limit diamond tradeoff: ~3/2 = [666.718, 701.955]
Optimal ET sequence: 7, 9, 16
Badness: 0.049038
11-limit
Subgroup: 2.3.5.7.11
Comma list: 33/32, 36/35, 45/44
Mapping: [⟨1 0 7 -5 5], ⟨0 1 -3 5 -1]]
- mapping generators: ~2, ~3
Optimal tunings:
- CTE: ~2 = 1200.000, ~3/2 = 674.684
- POTE: ~2 = 1200.000, ~3/2 = 673.807
Badness: 0.027211
13-limit
Subgroup: 2.3.5.7.11.13
Comma list: 27/26, 33/32, 36/35, 45/44
Mapping: [⟨1 0 7 -5 5 -1], ⟨0 1 -3 5 -1 3]]
- mapping generators: ~2, ~3
Optimal tunings:
- CTE: ~2 = 1200.000, ~3/2 = 675.288
- POTE: ~2 = 1200.000, ~3/2 = 673.763
Badness: 0.019351
Armodog
Subgroup: 2.3.5.7.11.13.19
Comma list: 27/26, 33/32, 36/35, 39/38, 45/44
Mapping: [⟨1 0 7 -5 5 -1 -2], ⟨0 1 -3 5 -1 3 4]]
- mapping generators: ~2, ~3
Optimal tunings:
- CTE: ~2 = 1200.000, ~3/2 = 675.170
- CWE: ~2 = 1200.000, ~3/2 = 673.540
Optimal ET sequence: 7, 9, 16, 25bf
Badness: 0.0160
Mavling
Mavling tempers out 126/125 and may be described as the 7d & 16 temperament. The 7/4 is mapped to the augmented sixth of the antidiatonic scale.
This temperament was formerly known as septimal mavila, but decanonicalized in 2025 per community consensus.
Subgroup: 2.3.5.7
Comma list: 126/125, 135/128
Mapping: [⟨1 0 7 20], ⟨0 1 -3 -11]]
- mapping generators: ~2, ~3
- CTE: ~2 = 1200.000, ~3/2 = 675.749
- error map: ⟨0.000 -26.206 -13.561 -2.067]
- POTE: ~2 = 1200.000, ~3/2 = 677.913
- error map: ⟨0.000 -24.042 -20.052 -25.866]
- 7-odd-limit diamond monotone: ~3/2 = [675.000, 678.261] (9\16 to 13\23)
- 7-odd-limit diamond tradeoff: ~3/2 = [671.229, 701.955]
Optimal ET sequence: 7d, 16, 23d
Badness: 0.089013
11-limit
Subgroup: 2.3.5.7.11
Comma list: 33/32, 45/44, 126/125
Mapping: [⟨1 0 7 20 5], ⟨0 1 -3 -11 -1]]
- mapping generators: ~2, ~3
Optimal tunings:
- CTE: ~2 = 1200.000, ~3/2 = 675.620
- POTE: ~2 = 1200.000, ~3/2 = 677.924
Optimal ET sequence: 7d, 16, 23de
Badness: 0.042049
Pelogic
Pelogic (from the Indonesian word pelog) should probably be pronounced /pɛˈlɒgɪk/ pell-LOG-ik. This name dates back to as early as 2004[2][3] and has been approved of by Mike Battaglia in 2011, reasoning that Pelog is supposed to be flatter than 16- or 23edo, and this temperament, tempering out 21/20 and described as the 7d & 9 temperament, tends towards such a tuning[1].
The 7/4 is mapped to the major sixth of the antidiatonic scale.
Subgroup: 2.3.5.7
Comma list: 21/20, 135/128
Mapping: [⟨1 0 7 9], ⟨0 1 -3 -4]]
- mapping generators: ~2, ~3
- CTE: ~2 = 1200.000, ~3/2 = 667.557
- error map: ⟨0.000 -34.398 +11.014 -39.055]
- POTE: ~2 = 1200.000, ~3/2 = 672.853
- error map: ⟨0.000 -29.102 -4.873 -60.239]
- 7-odd-limit diamond monotone: ~3/2 = 666.667 (5\9)
- 7-odd-limit diamond tradeoff: ~3/2 = [617.488, 701.955]
Optimal ET sequence: 7d, 9, 16d
Badness: 0.038661
11-limit
Subgroup: 2.3.5.7.11
Comma list: 21/20, 33/32, 45/44
Mapping: [⟨1 0 7 9 5], ⟨0 1 -3 -4 -1]]
- mapping generators: ~2, ~3
Optimal tunings:
- CTE: ~2 = 1200.000, ~3/2 = 667.180
- POTE: ~2 = 1200.000, ~3/2 = 672.644
Optimal ET sequence: 7d, 9, 16d
Badness: 0.022753
Hornbostel
Hornbostel tempers out 729/700 and may be described as the 7 & 23d temperament. The 7/4 is mapped to the diminished seventh of the antidiatonic scale.
Subgroup: 2.3.5.7
Comma list: 135/128, 729/700
Mapping: [⟨1 0 7 -16], ⟨0 1 -3 12]]
- mapping generators: ~2, ~3
- CTE: ~2 = 1200.000, ~3/2 = 680.371
- error map: ⟨0.000 -21.584 -27.425 -4.380]
- POTE: ~2 = 1200.000, ~3/2 = 678.947
- error map: ⟨0.000 -23.008 -23.156 -21.456]
Optimal ET sequence: 7, 16d, 23d, 53bbccd
Badness: 0.121294
11-limit
Subgroup: 2.3.5.7.11
Comma list: 33/32, 45/44, 729/700
Mapping: [⟨1 0 7 -16 5], ⟨0 1 -3 12 -1]]
- mapping generators: ~2, ~3
Optimal tunings:
- CTE: ~2 = 1200.000, ~3/2 = 680.241
- POTE: ~2 = 1200.000, ~3/2 = 678.909
Optimal ET sequence: 7, 16d, 23de, 53bbccdee
Badness: 0.055036
Bipelog
Subgroup: 2.3.5.7
Comma list: 50/49, 135/128
Mapping: [⟨2 0 14 15], ⟨0 1 -3 -3]]
- mapping generators: ~7/5, ~3
- CTE: ~7/5 = 600.000, ~3/2 = 677.114
- error map: ⟨0.000 -24.841 -17.656 -0.168]
- POTE: ~7/5 = 600.000, ~3/2 = 681.195
- error map: ⟨0.000 -20.760 -29.900 -12.412]
Optimal ET sequence: 14c, 30bc, 44bccd
Badness: 0.074703
11-limit
Subgroup: 2.3.5.7.11
Comma list: 33/32, 45/44, 50/49
Mapping: [⟨2 0 14 15 10], ⟨0 1 -3 -3 -1]]
- mapping generators: ~7/5, ~3
Optimal tunings:
- CTE: ~7/5 = 600.000, ~3/2 = 676.393
- POTE: ~7/5 = 600.000, ~3/2 = 681.280
Optimal ET sequence: 14c, 30bce, 44bccdee
Badness: 0.035694
Mohavila
Named by Mike Battaglia in 2012[4], mohavila splits the mavila fifth in two. Unlike mohaha, this generator is not used as an ~11/9. In fact, the prime 11 is the same as in mavila, so the ~11/9 is the major third, tempered together with ~5/4. The fifth is only split to derive septimal intervals.
Subgroup: 2.3.5.7
Comma list: 135/128, 1323/1250
Mapping: [⟨1 1 4 7], ⟨0 2 -6 -15]]
- mapping generators: ~2, ~25/21
- CTE: ~2 = 1200.000, ~25/21 = 336.122
- error map: ⟨0.000 -29.712 -3.043 -10.649]
- POTE: ~2 = 1200.000, ~25/21 = 337.658
- error map: ⟨0.000 -26.638 -12.264 -33.701]
Optimal ET sequence: 7d, 25b, 32bd
Badness: 0.222377
11-limit
Subgroup: 2.3.5.7.11
Comma list: 33/32, 45/44, 1323/1250
Mapping: [⟨1 1 4 7 4], ⟨0 2 -6 -15 -2]]
- mapping generators: ~2, ~25/21
Optimal tunings:
- CTE: ~2 = 1200.000, ~25/21 = 336.016
- POTE: ~2 = 1200.000, ~25/21 = 337.633
Optimal ET sequence: 7d, 25b, 32bde
Badness: 0.092074
Listening examples
- Mysterious Mush (spectrally mapped)
- Mysterious Mush (unmapped)
- Hopper by Singer-Medora-White-Smith; in f^4-10f+10=0 equal-beating mavila
- The Mavila Experiments - 9-EDO Version
- The Mavila Experiments - 16-EDO Version
- The Mavila Experiments - 23-EDO Version
- The Mavila Experiments - 25-EDO Version