Definitions of tuning terms

© 1998 by Joseph L. Monzo

All definitions by Joe Monzo unless otherwise cited


Diatonic


  • 1. An adjective referring to a scale composed of five tones and two semitones, such as the Pythagorean diatonic or the familiar 12-tone version.

    See Diatonon

    [from John Chalmers, Divisions of the Tetrachord]

    . . . . . . . . . . . . .

    (The latter is also referred to as a '7oo12' or '7-out-of-12' scale.)

  • 2. In ancient Greek theory, one of the three basic types of genus. It had a characteristic interval of approximately a "tone" at the top of the tetrachord, then two successive intervals of approximately a "tone" and a semitone at the bottom, making up a 4/3 "perfect 4th".

  • 3. In several different medieval theories, a distinction was made between chromatic and diatonic semitones, as there were two different sizes of semitone in many tuning systems.

    The diatonic semitone is the interval between two notes of a scale which have different letter-names, one of which would be qualified by an accidental, for example, A - Bb. The implication is that both tones are bonafide diatonic scale-degrees.

    The chromatic semitone is the interval between two notes of a scale which both have the same letter-name, but which have different accidentals (including the natural), for example, A - A#. The implication is that only one of the two is a bonafide diatonic scale degree.

    In the Pythagorean [3-Limit] system, the diatonic semitone is also called the leimma or limma.

    Marchetto specified three types of semitone and called the third, naturally enough, the enharmonic; however, his names were matched with the intervals differently than in traditional theory.

    [From Joe Monzo, JustMusic: A New Harmony]

    . . . . . . . . . . . . .

    An adjective referring to octave scales consisting of 7 tones and composed at most of three semitones.

    Comments:

    Classical examples with three different semitones:

  • JI major and minor scales
  • Helmholtz (= gypsy) major and minor scales
  • Redfield major and minor scales
  • Classical examples with two different semitones:

  • Greek modes (in the frame of Pythagorean Tuning)
  • scales of the fifth circle in the frame of the 1/4-comma meantone tuning
  • Classical example with only one semitone:

  • heptatonic (e.g. Messien's) modes in the frame of 12-TET
  • [From Jan Haluska, personal communication]


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