Incomposite

Undivided. An incomposite interval is a large interval which appears as a melodic step or second in a scale, but which is a skip in other parts of the scale or in other related scales.

The Minor Third (augmented second) is an incomposite interval in the Black Key pentatonic, but a composite one in the diatonic or White key collection.

[from John Chalmers, Divisions of the Tetrachord]

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

To illustrate Chalmers's example:

'Black Key Pentatonic'


           m3        m3
         |----|    |----|
F#  G#   A#   C#   D#  (F#)

The 'minor 3rds' in this scale are incomposite.



'White Key Diatonic'

      m3          m3
   |-----|     |------|
C  D  E  F  G  A  B  (C)  (D)
      |-----|     |--------|
         m3          m3

The 'minor 3rds' in this scale have other scale steps
coming between them, and thus are composite.

[- Joe Monzo]

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