User:Overthink/22edo decatonic theory

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Todo: Citation to Paul Erlich's paper, Add diagram

In classical music, we often use the diatonic scale, which is generated by meantone temperament. This gives us relatively simple access to 5-limit harmony, while avoiding wolf intervals. There is a system many consider to be analogous to diatonic in the 7-limit; the decatonic scale of pajara temperament. Strictly speaking, there are two decatonic scales: the symmetrical scale of the 2L 8s mos pattern, with large and small steps in the pattern ssLssssLss; and the pentachordal near-mos scale, with steps in the pattern ssLsssLsss. Here we will mainly be focusing on the pentachordal scale.

Interval classification

We will classify intervals based on the 2L 8s mos, with names "unison", "second", etc. However, since we have 10 note classes, the interval of equivalence is not an "octave" as in diatonic, but a "hendecave". In this system, 1sns, 2nds, 5ths, 6ths, 7ths, 10ths, and 11ves are perfect, while 3rds, 4ths, 8ths, and 9ths are imperfect. Pajara has a half-octave (600 ¢) period representing both 7/5 and 10/7, and a ~3/2 generator (~709 ¢ in 22edo). The half-octave is a perfect 6th, and the 3/2 is a perfect 7th. (From now on, interval names are decatonic unless specified.) Here is a table of intervals classified by the 2L 8s scale.

Decatonic intervals
Name Cents (22edo) Steps of 22edo JI ratios
Perfect 1sn 0.0 0 1/1
Augmented 1sn 54.5 1 25/24, 28/27, 49/48
Diminished 2nd 54.5 36/35, 81/80
Perfect 2nd 109.1 2 16/15, 15/14, 21/20
Augmented 2nd 163.6 3 10/9
Minor 3rd 218.2 4 8/7, 9/8
Major 3rd 272.7 5 7/6
Minor 4th 327.3 6 6/5
Major 4th 381.8 7 5/4
Diminished 5th 436.4 8 9/7, 32/25
Perfect 5th 490.9 9 4/3, 21/16
Augmented 5th 545.5 10 11/8
Diminished 6th 545.5 27/20, 15/11
Perfect 6th 600.0 11 7/5, 10/7
Augmented 6th 654.5 12 40/27, 22/15
Diminished 7th 654.5 16/11
Perfect 7th 709.1 13 3/2, 32/21
Augmented 7th 763.6 14 14/9, 25/16
Minor 8th 818.2 15 8/5
Major 8th 872.7 16 5/3
Minor 9th 927.3 17 12/7
Major 9th 981.8 18 7/4, 16/9
Diminished 10th 1036.4 19 9/5
Perfect 10th 1090.9 20 15/8, 28/15, 40/21
Augmented 10th 1145.5 21 27/14, 48/25, 96/49
Diminished 11ve 1145.5 35/18, 160/81
Perfect 11ve 1200.0 22 2/1

The white keys

In diatonic, the white keys are in a mode such that, on C, there is a major triad on the tonic, dominant, and subdominant. Here, the main chords are tetrads, with the major tetrad being P1−M4−P7−M9, approximating 4:5:6:7, and the minor tetrad being P1−m4−P7−m9, approximating 1/(7:8:10:12). More about this will be discussed later. Unfortunately, there is no mode of the pentachordal scale which places the major tetrad on the tonic, dominant, and subdominant of the same key, but the ssLsssLsss mode gets as close as possible. Hence, we will place the white keys on this mode above C.

The white keys
Note Interval above C Cents Steps
C P1 0.0 0
R P2 109.1 2
D m3 218.2 4
E M4 381.8 7
F P5 490.9 9
T P6 600.0 11
G P7 709.1 13
A M8 872.7 16
S M9 981.8 18
B P10 1090.9 20
C P11 1200.0 22

The notes are named so that C, D, E, F, G, A, and B represent the Zarlino diatonic scale, with R, S, and T filling the gaps.

Modes

Complete the table

Name Brightness Step pattern Intervals Note names on C Appears in white keys on
Scandium +5 LsssLsssss P1, A2, M3, M4, P5, A6, A7, M8, M9, P10, P11 C, R#, D#, E, F, T#, G#, A, S, B, C D
Titanium +3 LsssssLsss P1, A2, M3, M4, P5, P6, P7, M8, M9, P10, P11 C, R#, D#, E, F, T, G, A, S, B, C G
Vanadium +3 sLsssLssss P1, P2, M3, M4, P5, P6, A7, M8, M9, P10, P11 C, R, D#, E, F, T, G#, A, S, B, C R
Chromium +1 sLsssssLss P1, P2, M3, M4, P5, P6, A7, M8, M9, P10, P11 C, R, D#, E, F, T, G, Ab, S, B, C T
Manganese (Major) +1 ssLsssLsss P1, P2, M3, M4, P5, P6, A7, M8, M9, P10, P11 C, R, D, E, F, T, G, A, S, B, C C

Chords

First explain what chords are there

Using the Root−4th−7th−9th construction, we find the tetrads on each note.

Tetrads on white keys
Note Notes of chord Intervals of chord Name
C C−E−G−S P1−M4−P7−M9 Major
R R−F−A−B P1−M4−A7−M9 Aug.
D D−T−S−C P1−M4−A7−M9 Aug.
E E−G−B−R P1−m4−P7−m9 Minor
F F−A−C−D P1−M4−P7−m9 Major−minor
T T−S−R−E P1−M4−P7−M9 Major
G G−B−D−F P1−M4−P7−M9 Major
A A−C−E−T P1−m4−P7−m9 Minor
S S−R−F−G P1−m4−P7−m9 Minor
B B−D−T−A P1−m4−P7−M9 Minor−major