Definitions of tuning terms

© 1998 by Joseph L. Monzo

All definitions by Joe Monzo unless otherwise cited

with contributions by:

  • John Chalmers
  • Paul Erlich
  • Charles Lucy
  • Margo Schulter
  • Brian McLaren
  • Kees van Prooijen
  • Kraig Grady
  • Jan Haluska

  • INDEX: numbers A B C D E F G H L J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z



    numbers

    ¢, cents
    π, pi
    0 modulo n
    1/1
    1/3-tone
    1/4-comma meantone
    1/6-tone
    12-EQ
    2/1
    2nd, second
    3/2 complement
    3/4-tone
    3rd-tone
    4/3 Complement
    6th-tone
    88CET


    A

    adaptive JI
    affect
    algebraic number
    alpha
    anomaly
    apotome


    B

    bass
    beta
    bridging


    C

    cents, ¢
    Changless System
    characteristic interval, C.I.
    chord
    chromatic
    color, shade
    Combination Product Sets (CPS)
    comma
    commatic drift
    complement
    complete
    complex tone
    complexity
    conjugate
    conjunct
    constant structure
    consistent
    consonance, consonant
    cps or c.p.s
    critical band


    D

    deceptive diatonicity
    degree
    Dekatesserany
    delta
    determinant
    deviation
    diamond
    diapason
    diapente
    diaphonic Cycles
    diatessaron
    diatonic
    diatonon
    diesis
    diezeugmenon
    disjunct, disjunction
    dissonance, dissonant
    ditone
    ditoniaion
    dominant
    duodene


    E


    echos
    EDO (equally-divided 'octave')
    eikosany
    ekbole
    eklysis
    enharmonic
    enharmonicity
    enharmonion
    epimere
    epimeris
    epimore
    epimorios
    epsilon
    equable diatonic
    equal temperament
    error
    ET
    Euler-Fokker genus
    Euler genus
    even number
    experimental intonation
    extended reference


    F

    factor
    finity
    fraction
    framework, harmonic framework
    frequency
    fundamental
    Fundamental Theorem of Arithmetic


    G

    gamma
    gamut
    genos
    genus
    gipsy scale
    GPS, greater perfect system
    gradus suavitatis, GS
    greater perfect system, GPS
    guide-tone


    H

    half tone
    harmonia
    harmonic
    harmonic complexity
    harmonic distance
    harmonic entropy
    harmonic series
    harmonicity
    harmonike
    hemiolic
    hemiolion
    heptachord
    heptatonic
    heterophony, heterophonic
    hexachord
    hexad
    hexagram
    hexany
    hexatonic
    hexenharmonic
    homonymous
    homophony, homophonic
    Hungarian minor scale
    hyperenharmonic


    I

    identity
    incomposite
    indexed genera
    indigestibility
    integer
    intense
    interval
    interval matrix
    interval symmetric sets, ISS
    inversion
    irrational
    ISS, interval symmetric sets


    J

    JI
    just intonation


    K

    katapyknosis
    kleisma


    L

    L (= Large)
    lattice diagram
    LCD, lowest common divisor
    LCM, least common multiple
    lowest common divisor, LCD
    least common multiple, LCM
    leimma, limma
    lesser perfect system, LPS
    limit
    limma, leimma
    limmatic
    linear division
    linear temperament
    LPS, lesser perfect system


    M

    M3, major 3rd, major third
    m3, minor 3rd, minor third
    major mode, major scale
    major scale, major mode
    major third, major 3rd, M3
    major 3rd, major third, M3
    mandala
    matrix
    member
    M.D., modal determinant
    meantone
    mediant
    mediant averaging
    mesolabium
    microtemperament
    microtone, microtonal
    minor 3rd, minor third, m3
    minor mode, minor scale
    minor scale, minor mode
    minor third, minor 3rd, m3
    mod, modulo
    modal determinant, M.D.
    modal octave
    mode
    modulation
    monochord
    Monophony (capital 'M')
    monophony (lower-case 'm'), monophonic
    morphological metric
    morphology
    MOS
    moment of symmetry
    mutation


    N

    neo-Aristoxenian
    neutral 3rd, neutral third
    non-just non-equal
    Numerary Nexus


    O

    octachord
    octagram
    octave, octave-equivalence
    octave complement
    octave species
    Octony
    odd number
    odentity
    otonality


    P

    p4, perfect 4th, perfect fourth
    p5, perfect 5th, perfect fifth
    pain
    parachromatic
    paratactical
    partial
    pentachord
    pentachordal family
    pentachordal interval, P.I.
    pentachromatic
    pentatonic
    pentatriadic
    pentenharmonic
    perfect 4th, perfect fourth, p4
    perfect 5th, perfect fifth, p5
    perfect fifth, perfect 5th, p5
    perfect fourth, perfect 4th, p4
    Perfect Immutable System, PIS
    periodicity
    periodicity block
    phonic
    pi, π
    P.I., pentachordal interval
    PIS, Perfect Immutable System
    pitch
    pitch-class
    polychordal
    polymicrotonality
    polyphony, polyphonic
    polytriadic
    prime
    prime form
    prime limit
    Proper, Propriety
    Ps., pseudo
    Ptolemaic interpretation
    pyknon
    Pythagorean
    Pythagorean Comma


    Q

    quartal
    quarter-tone
    quintal


    R

    ratio
    reduplicated, reduplication
    root
    roughness


    S


    s (= small)
    saturated
    schisma, skhisma
    schismic
    Schlesinger harmoniai
    second, 2nd
    secondary ratios
    semi-tempered
    Semitone
    septendecimal
    septimal
    Septimal Comma
    shade, color
    simplicity
    sixth-tone
    skhisma, schisma
    skhismic major 3rd
    skip
    s (small)
    soft
    sonance
    span
    specific harmonicity
    stella octangula
    Stellated, Stellation
    step
    strictly proper
    strong
    subcommatic
    subdominant
    subgenus, subgenera
    subharmonic
    submediant
    subminor 3rd
    subtonic
    superparticular
    supertonic
    syntonic
    Syntonic Comma
    system


    T

    temper
    temperament
    tertian harmony
    Tetrachord
    Tetrad
    tetradekany
    tetraphonic cycle
    third-tone, 1/3-tone
    three-quarter-tone
    tolerance
    tonality
    tonalness
    Tonality Diamond
    tone
    tonic
    transcendental number
    triad
    triaphonic cycle
    trichord
    trichromatic
    tridecimal
    tritone
    tritriadic


    U

    udentity
    undecimal
    unequal temperaments
    unique
    unison
    unison vector
    unit-proportion, UP
    UP, unit-proportion
    utonality


    V

    vector


    W

    wafso-just
    weak
    well temperament
    whole tone
    wolf
    Wosta of Zalzal


    X

    xenharmonic
    xenharmonic bridge


    Y


    Z



    (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.


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