gamma, G

Third letter of the Greek alphabet, with the following current musical uses:

1.

A scale devised by Wendy Carlos which does not have "octaves", because of its equal "step size" of 35.1 cents, with 34.188 steps per "octave". Paul Hahn ( Onelist Tuning Digest 111, message 22) has pointed out that the number of steps per octave is very nearly double the numbers of steps per octave in both Carlos's alpha and beta scales. Examples of its use can be found on her album Beauty In The Beast.

2.

An additional letter-name used in Erv Wilson's notations, signifying a note near "G", but with a musical function which is separate from "G", in whatever particular scale the notation is describing. see The Wilson Archives for examples and explanations of his notation.




see also alpha, beta, gamut

[from Joe Monzo, JustMusic: A New Harmony]

---

UPdated: 2002.1.12

(to download a zip file of the entire Dictionary, click here)

For many more diagrams and explanations of historical tunings, see my book. If you don't understand my theory or the terms I've used, start here

I welcome feedback about this webpage: corrections, improvements, good links. Let me know if you don't understand something. return to the Microtonal Dictionary index return to my home page return to the Sonic Arts home page