User:Zhenlige/Pentatonic notation
This page introduces a proposed notation system centering the 2L 3s pentatonic scale.
Intervals
Intervals can be named according to quasi-diatonic MOS notation. The prefix “penta” can be added to avoid ambiguity. The word “period” can be used in place of “sext” to reduce strangeness.
With the same period and generator, the pentatonic chroma is the diatonic minor 2nd, and major and minor intervals are generally reversed.
| Interval | Abbrev. | Steps | 12edo tuning (cents) | Equivalent diatonic interval | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| L | s | ||||
| Perfect (penta-)unison | P1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Perfect unison |
| Minor (penta-)second | m2 | 0 | 1 | 200 | Major second |
| Major (penta-)second | M2 | 1 | 0 | 300 | Minor third |
| Diminished (penta-)third | d3 | 0 | 2 | 400 | Major third |
| Perfect (penta-)third | P3 | 1 | 1 | 500 | Perfect fourth |
| Perfect (penta-)fourth | P4 | 1 | 2 | 700 | Perfect fifth |
| Augmented (penta-)fourth | A4 | 2 | 1 | 800 | Minor sixth |
| Minor (penta-)fifth | m5 | 1 | 3 | 900 | Major sixth |
| Major (penta-)fifth | M5 | 2 | 2 | 1000 | Minor seventh |
| Perfect (penta-)sext/period | P6 | 2 | 3 | 1200 | Perfect octave |
The modes of the pentatonic scale has names in traditional Chinese music.
| UDP | Cyclic order |
Step pattern |
Scale degree (pentdegree) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | |||
| 4|0 | 1 | LsLss | Perf. | Maj. | Perf. | Aug. | Maj. | Perf. |
| 3|1 | 3 | LssLs | Perf. | Maj. | Perf. | Perf. | Maj. | Perf. |
| 2|2 | 5 | sLsLs | Perf. | Min. | Perf. | Perf. | Maj. | Perf. |
| 1|3 | 2 | sLssL | Perf. | Min. | Perf. | Perf. | Min. | Perf. |
| 0|4 | 4 | ssLsL | Perf. | Min. | Dim. | Perf. | Min. | Perf. |
| UDP | Cyclic order |
Step pattern |
Mode names |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4|0 | 1 | LsLss | Jue (角) |
| 3|1 | 3 | LssLs | Yu (羽) |
| 2|2 | 5 | sLsLs | Shang (商) |
| 1|3 | 2 | sLssL | Zhi (徵) |
| 0|4 | 4 | ssLsL | Gong (宫) |
Note names
Standard diatonic CGDAE are used. F and B are omitted. The sharp and flat are represented as “qing (清)” and “bian (变/變)”, borrowed from traditional Chinese music theory. Normal sharp/flat can also be used when not leading to ambiguity.
| Pentatonic | Diatonic |
|---|---|
| D | D |
| Dq | E♭ |
| Eb | D♯ |
| E | E |
| Eq | F |
| Gb | F♯ |
| G | G |
| Gq | A♭ |
| Ab | G♯ |
| A | A |
| Aq | B♭ |
| Cb | B |
| C | C |
| Cq | D♭ |
| Db | C♯ |
| D | D |
Staves
Regular 5-lined staves can be used. Since there are 5 lines, the same number as the notes in a period, all possible staff positions can be achieved by the C clef and 6ta/11ma/16ma etc. markings.