Definitions of tuning terms
© 1998 by Joseph L. Monzo
All definitions by Joe Monzo unless otherwise cited
Diatonic
See Diatonon
[from John Chalmers, Divisions of the Tetrachord]
(The latter is also referred to as a '7oo12' or '7-out-of-12' scale.)
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:
Classical examples with two different semitones:
Classical example with only one semitone:
[From Jan Haluska,
personal communication]
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