User:VectorGraphics/Delkian scale

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This is about the 34edo scale called "diatonic" in the fictional universe it's used in. For the MOS equivalent, see 10L 2s. For normal diatonic tuning in 34edo, see 34edo (internal link, I just don't know how to link to a specific section).

The Delkian scale is a scale used in Majestaz's Famana, with 12 notes: it is an octave-equivalent scale containing 10 large steps and 2 small steps. The small steps are unevenly spaced, with a pattern of LLLLsLLLLLLs, as such it is not formed by a generator, though 10 of its 12 degrees have a perfect fifth above them.


Name

The Delkian scale is referred to as "diatonic" in the fictional universe of Famana, as the 5L 2S diatonic of Western music theory is not used. It is called the "Delkian diatonic" due to an alternative popular tuning system called the Roklotian diatonic.


Notation

Intervals

Each interval class of the Delkian scale corresponds to an edostep of 12edo, just as each 12edo interval class corresponds to an edostep of 7edo. Each interval has 2 sizes, except for the tritone, which has 3.

Generic name (Western) Specific name (Western) Generic name (translated; in-universe) Specific name (translated; in-universe) Special name (in-universe) Steps subtended Size in 34-edosteps (34 edo) Note name (starting on N)
unison perfect unison unison perfect unison 0 0 N
minor 2nd minor minor 2nd 1st minor 1st tertigrade s 2 F-
major minor 2nd major 1st semigrade L 3 F
major 2nd minor major 2nd 2nd minor 2nd greater digrade L+s 5 S-
major major 2nd major 2nd lacuna 2L 6 S
minor 3rd minor minor 3rd 3rd minor 3rd prequadrant 2L+s 8 Z-
major minor 3rd major 3rd quadrant 3L 9 Z
major 3rd minor major 3rd 4th minor 4th terce 3L+s 11 G
major major 3rd major 4th bilacuna 4L 12 G+
4th perfect 4th 5th perfect 5th tersquance 4L+s 14 X
augmented 4th augmented 5th 5L 15 X+
tritone diminished tritone 6th diminished 6th 4L+2s 16 V-
perfect tritone perfect 6th median 5L+s 17 V
augmented tritone augmented 6th 6L 18 V+
5th diminished 5th 7th diminished 7th 5L+2s 19 M-
perfect 5th perfect 7th sesquance 6L+s 20 M
minor 6th minor minor 6th 8th minor 8th antibilacuna 6L+2s 22 P-
major minor 6th major 8th bess 7L+s 23 P
major 6th minor major 6th 9th minor 9th dodrant 7L+2s 25 T
major major 6th major 9th postdodrant 8L+s 26 T+
minor 7th minor minor 7th 10th minor 10th antilacuna 8L+2s 28 C
major minor 7th major 10th greater antidigrade 9L+s 29 C+
major 7th minor major 7th 11th minor 11th antisemigrade 9L+2s 31 W
major major 7th major 11th antitertigrade 10L+s 32 W+
octave perfect octave 12th perfect 12th duplance 10L+2s 34 N

Note names

There are 12 base notes: N, F, S, Z, G, X, V/L (in equal-tempered tuning, these are the same note), M, P, T, C, and W, and then back to N. These are consonants found in a language spoken in the fictional setting. There are two accidentals: - and +. + raises the pitch, and - lowers it, by one chroma. In-universe, this is analyzed as simply a small change in pitch, unlike our # and b, which are generalized based on fifth stacking. (Though this is due to the accidentals being a simplified version of a more complex accidental system used for notating JI)

Theory

A chart of all 12 modes of the Delkian scale, including the 11 traditional modes, and what intervals and chords they contain. Each mode has 3 main triads on its root out of 10, one major, one minor, and one diminished.

The key features of the scale are that you now get both major and minor thirds in any given key, which can be either 17edo's more extreme thirds, or the more just thirds 34edo provides, or some mix of the options. These comma-sized variations in the intervals define the mode's distinct feel.

The scale was created taking both 3 and 5 into account. Naturally, the main harmonic tool is not a chain of fifths but rather a harmonic table of fifths and classical major thirds, as follows (described in terms of 34-edosteps here, with the Staimosic mode highlighted):

22 8 28 14 0 20 6 26 12 32 18 4 24 10 30 16 2
33 19 5 25 11 31 17 3 23 9 29 15 1 21 7 27 13
10 30 16 2 22 8 28 14 0 20 6 26 12 32 18 4 24
21 7 27 13 33 19 5 25 11 31 17 3 23 9 29 15 1
32 18 4 24 10 30 16 2 22 8 28 14 0 20 6 26 12
9 29 15 1 21 7 27 13 33 19 5 25 11 31 17 3 23
20 6 26 12 32 18 4 24 10 30 16 2 22 8 28 14 0
31 17 3 23 9 29 15 1 21 7 27 13 33 19 5 25 11

Note that a fifth can be built from 8 stacked 11-step thirds, so this table can be read column-by-column to count up by thirds. Note that fifths never cycle around to create a classical third ("minor major third"), so they just loop around the sides normally.

Additionally, note that multiple wolf fifths are necessary to cycle around the scale, these are just considered a variant of fifth (the "diminished fifth/seventh" mentioned) in-universe.


Modes

11 of the modes of the scale are used in traditional music composition and thus have names. These names are based on ancient tribes from the Famana setting:

Awanic LsLLLLsLLLLL
Pixuanic sLLLLLLsLLLL
Sebaic LLsLLLLsLLLL
Prathuic LsLLLLLLsLLL
Staimosic LLLsLLLLsLLL
Mielauic LLsLLLLLLsLL
Moriolic LLLLsLLLLsLL
Aujalic LLLsLLLLLLsL
Skoronic LLLLLsLLLLsL
Hininic LLLLsLLLLLLs
Bediyic LLLLLLsLLLLs
N/A sLLLLsLLLLLL