Starling 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 starling family of rank-3 temperaments tempers out the starling comma (ratio: 126/125, monzo: [1 2 -3 1⟩), also known as septimal semicomma.
Starling
The head of the starling family is starling, which tempers out 126/125. Starling has a normal generator list of {2, 3, 5}; hence a 5-limit scale can be converted to starling simply by tempering it. One way to do that, and an excellent starling tuning, is given by 77edo. Other possible tunings are 108edo and 185edo, and 135edo in the nonpatent 135c val ⟨135 214 314 379].
Because no appreciable tuning accuracy is lost by including 1029/1024 along with 126/125 in the comma list, which leads to valentine, there is a close relationship between the two. Even if tempering a 5-limit scale, one can assume valentine tempering.
Subgroup: 2.3.5.7
Mapping: [⟨1 0 0 -1], ⟨0 1 0 -2], ⟨0 0 1 3]]
- mapping generators: ~2, ~3, ~5
Mapping to lattice: [⟨0 1 0 -2], ⟨0 1 1 1]]
- ~6/5 length = 1.068, ~5/4 length = 1.206
- angle (~6/5, ~5/4) = 100.364°
- WE: ~2 = 1199.7931 ¢, ~3/2 = 701.1306 ¢, ~5/4 = 390.0298 ¢
- error map: ⟨-0.207 -1.031 +3.302 -1.618]
- CWE: ~2 = 1200.0000 ¢, ~3/2 = 701.0811 ¢, ~5/4 = 389.8833 ¢
- error map: ⟨0.000 -0.874 +3.570 -1.338]
- 7- and 9-odd-limit: 3 and 7 just, 5 1/3-comma sharp
- [[1 0 0 0⟩, [0 1 0 0⟩, [1/3 2/3 0 1/3⟩, [0 0 0 1⟩]
- unchanged-interval (eigenmonzo) basis: 2.3.7
Optimal ET sequence: 7d, 8d, 12, 19, 27, 31, 46, 58, 77, 135c, 166c
Badness (Sintel): 0.308
Projection pair: 7 125/18
- 7: 25/24, 81/80
- 8: 16/15, 648/625
- 9: 27/25, 128/125
- 11: 16/15, 15625/15552
- 12: 128/125, 628/625
- 15: 128/125, 250/243
- 16: 648/625, 3125/3072
- 17: 25/24, 20480/19683
- 19: 81/80, 3125/3072
- 27: 128/125, 78732/78125
- 28: 648/625, 16875/16384
- 31: 81/80, 1990656/1953125
- 34: 15625/15552, 2048/2025
Overview to extensions
Temperaments discussed elsewhere include
- Erato (+81/80) → Didymus rank-3 family
- Sensigh (+245/243) → Sengic family
- Oxpecker (+121/120) → Biyatismic clan
- Cuckoo (+243/242) → Rastmic rank-3 clan
Considered below are thrush, starnova, thrasher, aplonis, and treecreeper.
Thrush
Thrush is the main extension of starling into the 11-limit. It may be described as 12 & 15 & 31, and is loosely associated with myna.
Subgroup: 2.3.5.7.11
Comma list: 126/125, 176/175
Mapping: [⟨1 0 0 -1 -5], ⟨0 1 0 -2 -2], ⟨0 0 1 3 5]]
Mapping to lattice: [⟨0 1 1 1 3], ⟨0 1 0 -2 -2]]
Lattice basis:
- ~5/4 length = 0.8576, ~6/5 length = 0.9314
- angle(~5/4, ~6/5) = 74.6239°
- WE: ~2 = 1199.4742 ¢, ~3/2 = 701.6379 ¢, ~5/4 = 391.0192 ¢
- error map: ⟨-0.526 -0.843 +3.654 -0.621 -1.075]
- CWE: ~2 = 1200.0000 ¢, ~3/2 = 701.6298 ¢, ~5/4 = 390.8558 ¢
- error map: ⟨0.000 -0.325 +4.542 +0.482 -0.298]
- 7- and 9-odd-limit
- [[1 0 0 0 0⟩, [0 1 0 0 0⟩, [1/3 2/3 0 1/3 0⟩, [0 0 0 1 0⟩, [-10/3 4/3 0 5/3 0⟩]
- unchanged-interval (eigenmonzo) basis: 2.3.7
Optimal ET sequence: 12, 15, 19e, 27e, 31, 46, 58, 89, 135c, 193c, 224c
Badness (Sintel): 0.424
Projection pairs: 7 125/18 11 3125/288
13-limit
Subgroup: 2.3.5.7.11.13
Comma list: 126/125, 176/175, 196/195
Mapping: [⟨1 0 0 -1 -5 0], ⟨0 1 0 -2 -2 -5], ⟨0 0 1 3 5 5]]
Optimal tunings:
- WE: ~2 = 1199.2727 ¢, ~3/2 = 702.2858 ¢, ~5/4 = 391.3567 ¢
- CWE: ~2 = 1200.0000 ¢, ~3/2 = 702.4562 ¢, ~5/4 = 391.2080 ¢
Optimal ET sequence: 12f, 19e, 27e, 31, 46, 58, 104c, 135c, 193cf
Badness (Sintel): 0.633
Bluebird
- Not to be confused with Bluebirds.
Subgroup: 2.3.5.7.11.13
Comma list: 126/125, 144/143, 176/175
Mapping: [⟨1 0 0 -1 -5 9], ⟨0 1 0 -2 -2 4], ⟨0 0 1 3 5 -5]]
Optimal tunings:
- WE: ~2 = 1198.7153 ¢, ~3/2 = 701.647 ¢, ~5/4 = 391.9180 ¢
- CWE: ~2 = 1200.0000 ¢, ~3/2 = 701.6263 ¢, ~5/4 = 391.7786 ¢
Optimal ET sequence: 12, 15, 27e, 31, 43, 58, 205cceff, 263ccdeefff
Badness (Sintel): 0.856
Projection pairs: 7 125/18 11 3125/288 13 41472/3125
Nightingale
Subgroup: 2.3.5.7.11.13
Comma list: 66/65, 126/125, 176/175
Mapping: [⟨1 0 0 -1 -5 -4], ⟨0 1 0 -2 -2 -1], ⟨0 0 1 3 5 4]]
Optimal tunings:
- WE: ~2 = 1200.1476 ¢, ~3/2 = 699.2886 ¢, ~5/4 = 388.2054 ¢
- CWE: ~2 = 1200.0000 ¢, ~3/2 = 699.2840 ¢, ~5/4 = 388.2437 ¢
Optimal ET sequence: 12f, 15, 19e, 27eff, 31
Badness (Sintel): 0.783
Veery
Subgroup: 2.3.5.7.11.13
Comma list: 91/90, 126/125, 176/175
Mapping: [⟨1 0 0 -1 -5 2], ⟨0 1 0 -2 -2 4], ⟨0 0 1 3 5 -2]]
Optimal tunings:
- WE: ~2 = 1199.7998 ¢, ~3/2 = 704.4117 ¢, ~5/4 = 391.7571 ¢
- CWE: ~2 = 1200.0000 ¢, ~3/2 = 704.3959 ¢, ~5/4 = 391.6910 ¢
Optimal ET sequence: 12, 15, 19e, 27e, 31f, 46
Badness (Sintel): 0.927
Starnova
Starnova tempers out 385/384. This temperament used to be known as undecimal starling, but was decanonicalized in 2026. The name starnova was proposed by Flora Canou after Gene Ward Smith's Star and Nova scales.
Subgroup: 2.3.5.7.11
Comma list: 126/125, 385/384
Mapping: [⟨1 0 0 -1 8], ⟨0 1 0 -2 3], ⟨0 0 1 3 -4]]
- WE: ~2 = 1200.6133 ¢, ~3/2 = 700.4314 ¢, ~5/4 = 388.3236 ¢
- error map: ⟨+0.613 -0.910 +3.237 -2.878 -1.478]
- CWE: ~2 = 1200.0000 ¢, ~3/2 = 700.4020 ¢, ~5/4 = 388.3631 ¢
- error map: ⟨0.000 -1.553 +2.049 -4.541 -3.564]
Optimal ET sequence: 12e, 15, 19, 27, 31, 46, 77, 96d, 127d, 173d, 204de
Badness (Sintel): 0.813
Projection pairs: 7 125/18 11 6912/625
Scales: Star and Nova
13-limit
Subgroup: 2.3.5.7.11.13
Comma list: 126/125, 196/195, 385/384
Mapping: [⟨1 0 0 -1 8 0], ⟨0 1 0 -2 3 -5], ⟨0 0 1 3 -4 5]]
Optimal tunings:
- WE: ~2 = 1200.5083 ¢, ~3/2 = 700.7452 ¢, ~5/4 = 388.4655 ¢
- CWE: ~2 = 1200.0000 ¢, ~3/2 = 700.5708 ¢, ~5/4 = 388.4346 ¢
Optimal ET sequence: 15f, 19, 27, 31, 46, 77, 96d
Badness (Sintel): 1.07
Thrasher
Subgroup: 2.3.5.7.11
Comma list: 56/55, 100/99
Mapping: [⟨1 0 0 -1 2], ⟨0 1 0 -2 -2], ⟨0 0 1 3 2]]
Mapping to lattice: [⟨0 1 0 -2 -2], ⟨0 1 1 1 0]]
Lattice basis:
- ~6/5 length = 0.9089, ~5/4 length = 1.2007
- angle (~6/5, ~5/4) = 98.8447°
- WE: ~2 = 1196.9183 ¢, ~3/2 = 706.1793 ¢, ~5/4 = 394.5223 ¢
- error map: ⟨-3.082 +1.143 +2.045 -6.863 +13.041]
- CWE: ~2 = 1200.0000 ¢, ~3/2 = 706.2523 ¢, ~5/4 = 392.7970 ¢
- error map: ⟨0.000 +4.297 +6.483 -2.940 +21.771]
- [[1 0 0 0 0⟩, [1 3/4 0 1/4 -3/8⟩, [1 1/2 0 1/2 -1/4⟩, [0 0 0 1 0⟩, [2 -1/2 0 1/2 1/4⟩]
- unchanged-interval (eigenmonzo) basis: 2.7.11/9
Optimal ET sequence: 7d, 8d, 12, 15, 19, 27e *
Badness (Sintel): 0.577
Scales: Thrasher chromatic, Thrasher diatonic
13-limit
Subgroup: 2.3.5.7.11.13
Comma list: 56/55, 91/90, 100/99
Mapping: [⟨1 0 0 -1 2 2], ⟨0 1 0 -2 -2 4], ⟨0 0 1 3 2 -2]]
Optimal tunings:
- WE: ~2 = 1197.4723 ¢, ~3/2 = 707.3847 ¢, ~5/4 = 394.2040 ¢
- CWE: ~2 = 1200.0000 ¢, ~3/2 = 707.1440 ¢, ~5/4 = 392.7909 ¢
Optimal ET sequence: 7d, 8d, 12, 15, 19, 27e, 69bceef *
* optimal patent val: 34
Badness (Sintel): 0.820
Mockingbird
Subgroup: 2.3.5.7.11.13
Comma list: 40/39, 56/55, 100/99
Mapping: [⟨1 0 0 -1 2 3], ⟨0 1 0 -2 -2 -1], ⟨0 0 1 3 2 1]]
Optimal tunings:
- WE: ~2 = 1193.3128 ¢, ~3/2 = 710.0779 ¢, ~5/4 = 400.7221 ¢
- CWE: ~2 = 1200.0000 ¢, ~3/2 = 711.2922 ¢, ~5/4 = 398.0867 ¢
Optimal ET sequence: 7d, 8d, 12f, 15, 27eff
Badness (Sintel): 0.804
Catbird
Subgroup: 2.3.5.7.11.13
Comma list: 56/55, 78/77, 100/99
Mapping: [⟨1 0 0 -1 2 0], ⟨0 1 0 -2 -2 -5], ⟨0 0 1 3 2 5]]
Optimal tunings:
- WE: ~2 = 1196.8488 ¢, ~3/2 = 704.8749 ¢, ~5/4 = 394.9837 ¢
- CWE: ~2 = 1200.0000 ¢, ~3/2 = 704.9205 ¢, ~5/4 = 393.2290 ¢
Optimal ET sequence: 7df, 8d, 12f, 19, 27e, 66cdeeef
Badness (Sintel): 0.846
Aplonis
Subgroup: 2.3.5.7.11
Comma list: 126/125, 540/539
Mapping: [⟨1 0 0 -1 4], ⟨0 1 0 -2 7], ⟨0 0 1 3 -5]]
- WE: ~2 = 1199.6006 ¢, ~3/2 = 700.5746 ¢, ~5/4 = 390.2558 ¢
- error map: ⟨-0.399 -1.780 +3.143 -0.406 +1.026]
- CWE: ~2 = 1200.0000 ¢, ~3/2 = 700.4342 ¢, ~5/4 = 389.9796 ¢
- error map: ⟨0.000 -1.521 +3.666 +0.244 +1.824]
Optimal ET sequence: 12e, 19, 27e, 31, 58, 89, 197c, 228c
Badness (Sintel): 0.778
13-limit
Subgroup: 2.3.5.7.11.13
Comma list: 126/125, 144/143, 196/195
Mapping: [⟨1 0 0 -1 4 0], ⟨0 1 0 -2 7 -5], ⟨0 0 1 3 -5 5]]
Optimal tunings:
- WE: ~2 = 1199.0609 ¢, ~3/2 = 701.2333 ¢, ~5/4 = 390.8385 ¢
- CWE: ~2 = 1200.0000 ¢, ~3/2 = 701.0203 ¢, ~5/4 = 390.2413 ¢
Optimal ET sequence: 8d, 19, 27e, 31, 50, 58, 166cef, 224ceeff
Badness (Sintel): 0.768
Treecreeper
Subgroup: 2.3.5.7.11
Comma list: 126/125, 1232/1215
Mapping: [⟨1 0 0 -1 -3], ⟨0 1 0 -2 7], ⟨0 0 1 3 -2]]
- WE: ~2 = 1198.8957 ¢, ~3/2 = 704.9055 ¢, ~5/4 = 392.8725 ¢
- error map: ⟨-1.104 +1.846 +4.350 -3.332 -2.725]
- CWE: ~2 = 1200.0000 ¢, ~3/2 = 705.0045 ¢, ~5/4 = 392.3159 ¢
- error map: ⟨0.000 +3.050 +6.002 -1.887 -0.918]
Optimal ET sequence: 7d, 12e, 19e, 27e, 39d, 46, 119c
Badness (Sintel): 1.91
13-limit
Subgroup: 2.3.5.7.11.13
Comma list: 91/90, 126/125, 352/351
Mapping: [⟨1 0 0 -1 -3 2], ⟨0 1 0 -2 7 4], ⟨0 0 1 3 -2 -2]]
Optimal tunings:
- WE: ~2 = 1199.7878 ¢, ~3/2 = 704.6703 ¢, ~5/4 = 391.3513 ¢
- CWE: ~2 = 1200.0000 ¢, ~3/2 = 704.7011 ¢, ~5/4 = 391.2846 ¢
Optimal ET sequence: 7d, 12e, 19e, 27e, 46
Badness (Sintel): 1.48