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Todo: expand, separate left-hand and right-hand modes for all chiral scales, establish and/or revamp mode names for several scales |
TERNAMS (pronounced /tərneɪmz/, TER-names) is a system meant to provide tuning-agnostic names for MV3 ternary scales. The name "TERNAMS" is a portmanteau of "ternary" and "names," specifically chosen by comparison to TAMNAMS.
TERNAMS aims to fix the problem wherein ternary scales and their modes cannot be concisely described with numbers in the same manner that MOS scales can. While a MV2 MOS scale can be described in terms of large and small steps, many MV3 ternary scales have separate chiral and achiral patterns with the same number of steps. Additionally, while a mode of a MV2 MOS scale can be described by how many generators are stacked up/down from the root, many MV3 ternary scales cannot be made with generators at all.
For the purposes of TERNAMS, the left-hand and right-hand variants of chiral scales will be considered equivalent scales; when disambiguation is needed, Levo- can be prefixed for the left-hand orientation, and Dextro- for the right-hand.
This page will document any and all MV3 ternary scales, and the modes thereof, that have been named in the TERNAMS system thus far.
Five-Note Scales
Dactylic (Achiral 1L2M2s)
The name "Dactylic" was given by Unque, from the Greek Dactylus, meaning "finger"; the five modes are thus named for the Greek terms for the five fingers. Dactylic can be collapsed to form Antipentic (L = M), Antimanual (M = s), or Antrial (s = 0).
Dactylic Modes
| Mode Name
|
Rotational Order
|
Brightness
|
Step Pattern
|
| Deictian
|
1
|
4
|
MLMss
|
| Mesaian
|
2
|
5
|
LMssM
|
| Dactylidian
|
3
|
3
|
MssML
|
| Micrian
|
4
|
1
|
ssMLM
|
| Anticheirian
|
5
|
2
|
sMLMs
|
Seven-Note Scales
Antinicetone (Chiral 2L2M3s)
Antinicetone is the inverse of the Nicetone scale. It can be collapsed to form Smitonic (L = M), Antidiatonic (M = s), or Diwood (s = 0).
Left-Hand Antinicetone Modes
| Mode Name
|
Rotational Order
|
Brightness
|
Pattern
|
| TBA
|
1
|
2
|
sMLsMsL
|
| TBA
|
2
|
5
|
MLsMsLs
|
| TBA
|
3
|
6
|
LsMsLsM
|
| TBA
|
4
|
1
|
sMsLsML
|
| TBA
|
5
|
4
|
MsLsMLs
|
| TBA
|
6
|
3
|
sLsMLsM
|
| TBA
|
7
|
7
|
LsMLsMs
|
Right-Hand Antinicetone Modes
| Mode Name
|
Rotational Order
|
Brightness
|
Pattern
|
| TBA
|
1
|
4
|
sLMsLsM
|
| TBA
|
2
|
2
|
LMsLsMs
|
| TBA
|
3
|
6
|
MsLsMsL
|
| TBA
|
4
|
1
|
sLsMsLM
|
| TBA
|
5
|
5
|
LsMsLMs
|
| TBA
|
6
|
3
|
sMsLMsL
|
| TBA
|
7
|
7
|
MsLMsLs
|
Omnidiatonic (Chiral 2L3M2s)
Omnidiatonic is a scale that can be collapsed into both standard Diatonic (L = M) and Antidiatonic (M = s), as well as their parental Pentatonic scale (s = 0).
Left-Hand Omnidiatonic Modes
| Mode Name
|
Rotational Order
|
Brightness
|
Pattern
|
| TBA
|
1
|
4
|
MLsMLMs
|
| TBA
|
2
|
6
|
LsMLMsM
|
| TBA
|
3
|
2
|
sMLMsML
|
| TBA
|
4
|
5
|
MLMsMLs
|
| TBA
|
5
|
7
|
LMsMLsM
|
| TBA
|
6
|
3
|
MsMLsML
|
| TBA
|
7
|
1
|
sMLsMLM
|
Right-Hand Omnidiatonic Modes
| Mode Name
|
Rotational Order
|
Brightness
|
Pattern
|
| TBA
|
1
|
6
|
LMsMLMs
|
| TBA
|
2
|
3
|
MsMLMsL
|
| TBA
|
3
|
1
|
sMLMsLM
|
| TBA
|
4
|
5
|
MLMsLMs
|
| TBA
|
5
|
7
|
LMsLMsM
|
| TBA
|
6
|
4
|
MsLMsML
|
| TBA
|
7
|
2
|
sLMsMLM
|
Nicetone (Chiral 3L2M2s)
The name "Nicetone" is chosen by comparison to Meantone, as it is a variant of the Diatonic scale that distinguishes between two types of whole tones. It can be collapsed to form Diatonic (L = M), Mosh (M = s), and Antipentic (s = 0).
Left-Hand Nicetone Modes
| Mode Name
|
Rotational Order
|
Brightness
|
Pattern
|
| TBA
|
1
|
4
|
MLsLMLs
|
| TBA
|
2
|
6
|
LsLMLsM
|
| TBA
|
3
|
2
|
sLMLsML
|
| TBA
|
4
|
7
|
LMLsMLs
|
| TBA
|
5
|
3
|
MLsMLsL
|
| TBA
|
6
|
5
|
LsMLsLM
|
| TBA
|
7
|
1
|
sMLsLML
|
Right-Hand Nicetone Modes
| Mode Name
|
Rotational Order
|
Brightness
|
Pattern
|
| TBA
|
1
|
6
|
LMsLMLs
|
| TBA
|
2
|
3
|
MsLMLsL
|
| TBA
|
3
|
2
|
sLMLsLM
|
| TBA
|
4
|
7
|
LMLsLMs
|
| TBA
|
5
|
4
|
MLsLMsL
|
| TBA
|
6
|
5
|
LsLMsLM
|
| TBA
|
7
|
1
|
sLMsLML
|
Smicot (Chiral 3L1M3s)
The name Smicot is a clipping of "Sharp Minor Dicot," as it can be collapsed to form Smitonic (L = M), Dicot[7] (M = s), or their parent scale, Tetric (s = 0).
Smicot Modes
| Mode Name
|
Rotational Order
|
Left-Hand Brightness
|
Right-Hand Brightness
|
Left-Hand Pattern
|
Right-Hand Pattern
|
| Omnidril
|
1
|
6
|
5
|
LsLsLsM
|
LsLsLMs
|
| Omnigil
|
2
|
1
|
2
|
sLsLsML
|
sLsLMsL
|
| Omnikleeth
|
3
|
5
|
6
|
LsLsMLs
|
LsLMsLs
|
| Omnibish
|
4
|
2
|
3
|
sLsMLsL
|
sLMsLsL
|
| Omnifish
|
5
|
4
|
7
|
LsMLsLs
|
LMsLsLs
|
| Omnijwl
|
6
|
3
|
4
|
sLMsLsL
|
MsLsLsL
|
| Omniled
|
7
|
7
|
1
|
LMsLsLs
|
sLsLsLM
|
Nine-Note Scales
Orbital (Chiral 2L2M5s)
The name "Orbital" was workshopped by CellularAutomaton and Unque as a joint pun on Orwell and Balzano. This scale can be collapsed to form Gramitonic (L = M), Balzano (M = s), or Diwood (s = 0). Its nine modes can be named after the demonyms for the nine planets of the solar system.
| Mode Name
|
Rotational Order
|
Left-Hand Brightness
|
Right-Hand Brightness
|
Left-Hand Pattern
|
Right-Hand Pattern
|
| Mercurian
|
1
|
7
|
9
|
MsLsMsLss
|
LsMsLsMss
|
| Cytherian
|
2
|
5
|
3
|
sLsMsLssM
|
sMsLsMssL
|
| Terrestrial
|
3
|
9
|
7
|
LsMsLssMs
|
MsLsMssLs
|
| Martian
|
4
|
2
|
4
|
sMsLssMsL
|
sLsMssLsM
|
| Jovian
|
5
|
6
|
8
|
MsLssMsLs
|
LsMssLsMs
|
| Cronian
|
6
|
4
|
2
|
sLssMsLsM
|
sMssLsMsL
|
| Uranian
|
7
|
8
|
6
|
LssMsLsMs
|
MssLsMsLs
|
| Neptunian
|
8
|
1
|
1
|
ssMsLsMsL
|
ssLsMsLsM
|
| Plutonian
|
9
|
3
|
5
|
sMsLsMsLs
|
sLsMsLsMs
|
Dhembric (Chiral 4L1M4s)
The name "Dhembric" was suggested by Lériendil as a reference to Dhembrwood, a temperament which utilizes both the left- and right-hand variations of this scale; while these modes have names in the context of the Dhembrwood temperament, the usage of these names for the Dhembric modes in general has been criticized for their lack of academic merit. This scale can be collapsed to form Semiquartal (L = M), Gramitonic (M = s), or Manual (s = 0).
Left-Hand Dhembric Modes
| Mode Name
|
Rotational Order
|
Brightness
|
Pattern
|
| TBA
|
1
|
9
|
LsLsLsLsM
|
| TBA
|
2
|
4
|
sLsLsLsML
|
| TBA
|
3
|
8
|
LsLsLsMLs
|
| TBA
|
4
|
3
|
sLsLsMLsL
|
| TBA
|
5
|
7
|
LsLsMLsLs
|
| TBA
|
6
|
2
|
sLsMLsLsL
|
| TBA
|
7
|
6
|
LsMLsLsLs
|
| TBA
|
8
|
1
|
sMLsLsLsL
|
| TBA
|
9
|
5
|
MLsLsLsLs
|
Right-Hand Dhembric Modes
| Mode Name
|
Rotational Order
|
Brightness
|
Pattern
|
| TBA
|
1
|
5
|
MsLsLsLsL
|
| TBA
|
2
|
1
|
sLsLsLsLM
|
| TBA
|
3
|
6
|
LsLsLsLMs
|
| TBA
|
4
|
2
|
sLsLsLMsL
|
| TBA
|
5
|
7
|
LsLsLMsLs
|
| TBA
|
6
|
3
|
sLsLMsLsL
|
| TBA
|
7
|
8
|
LsLMsLsLs
|
| TBA
|
8
|
4
|
sLMsLsLsL
|
| TBA
|
9
|
9
|
LMsLsLsLs
|
Diasem (Chiral 5L2M2s)
The chiral Diasem scale is named as a portmanteau of Diatonic and Semiquartal; it can be collapsed to form Superdiatonic (L = M), Semiquartal (M = s) and Diatonic (s = 0). Some have suggested naming its nine modes after those of its collapsed scales, but this approach has been criticized for being ambiguous.
Left-Hand Diasem Modes
| Mode Name
|
Rotational Order
|
Brightness
|
Pattern
|
| TBA
|
1
|
5
|
LsLMLsLLM
|
| TBA
|
2
|
1
|
sLMLsLLML
|
| TBA
|
3
|
8
|
LMLsLLMLs
|
| TBA
|
4
|
4
|
MLsLLMLsL
|
| TBA
|
5
|
6
|
LsLLMLsLM
|
| TBA
|
6
|
2
|
sLLMLsLML
|
| TBA
|
7
|
9
|
LLMLsLMLs
|
| TBA
|
8
|
7
|
LMLsLMLsL
|
| TBA
|
9
|
3
|
MLsLMLsLL
|
Right-Hand Diasem Modes
| Mode Name
|
Rotational Order
|
Brightness
|
Pattern
|
| TBA
|
1
|
6
|
LsLMLLsLM
|
| TBA
|
2
|
2
|
sLMLLsLML
|
| TBA
|
3
|
8
|
LMLLsLMLs
|
| TBA
|
4
|
4
|
MLLsLMLsL
|
| TBA
|
5
|
9
|
LLsLMLsLM
|
| TBA
|
6
|
5
|
LsLMLsLML
|
| TBA
|
7
|
1
|
sLMLsLMLL
|
| TBA
|
8
|
7
|
LMLsLMLLs
|
| TBA
|
9
|
3
|
MLsLMLLsL
|
