Delta scale

Minor second  Play (help·info)

The δ (delta) scale is a non-octave repeating musical scale. It may be regarded as the beta scale's reciprocal since it is, "as far 'down' the (0 3 6 9) circle from α as β is 'up.'"^[1] As such it would split the minor second into eight equal parts of approximately 14 cents each  Play (help·info). This would total approximately 85.7 steps per octave.

The Bohlen-Pierce delta scale is based on the tritave and the 7:5:3 "wide" triad ( Play (help·info)) and the 9:7:5 "narrow" triad ( Play (help·info)) (rather than the conventional 4:5:6 triad). Notes include^[2]:

1:1  Play (help·info)

25:21  Play (help·info)

9:7  Play (help·info)

75:49  Play (help·info)

5:3  Play (help·info)

9:5  Play (help·info)

15:7  Play (help·info)

7:3  Play (help·info)

25:9  Play (help·info)

3:1  Play (help·info)

See also

• Alpha scale
• Bohlen–Pierce scale
• Gamma scale

Further reading

• Bohlen, Heinz: "13 Tonstufen in der Duodezime", Acustica, vol. 39 no. 2, S. Hirzel Verlag, Stuttgart, 1978, pp. 76 - 86. (German)

Sources

1. ^ Taruskin, Richard (1996). Stravinsky and the Russian Traditions: A Biography of the Works through Mavra, p.1394. ISBN 978-0-520-07099-8.
2. ^ "What about BP tonality?", The Bohlen-Pierce Site.

Traditional non-Western

Chinese musicology · Dastgah · Maqam (Arabian maqam · Makam · Mugham · Muqam) · Octoechos · Pelog · Raga (Carnatic rāga) · Slendro · Tetrachord

Non-octave

Alpha scale · Beta scale · Gamma scale · Delta scale · Bohlen–Pierce scale