1. New York University Adjunct Instructor Scott Burton
MSP
New York University
Adjunct Instructor Scott Burton

2. The Pythagorean “Dodecaphonic” Scale
The Pythagorean chromatic scale we built so far is build by successive multiplication of 3/2
Goes up until we have as many intervals as we want
This version builds the scale in two directions:
Powers of 3/2 up 6 intervals
Instead of continuing up we stop at 6
We add 6 more by going down from the base freq
Powers of 2/3 down 6 intervals

3. The Pythagorean “Dodecaphonic” scale ...
This results in more useable “accidentals” (sharps/flats)
Notice we have 13 intervals now...
This scale sounds more consonant
Intervals are built with smaller integers in the numerator/denominator
More “super-particular” than prior Pythagorean build method
An improvement but there are still problems with some intervals...
primarily the 3rd or “M3”
See spreadsheet living spec pythag_sheet_phase5.xlsx

4. The Pythagorean “Dodecaphonic” scale ...
See spreadsheet living spec pythag_sheet_phase5.xlsx

5. Break

6. Rhythm Tempo Meter – how we “chunk” beats into a pattern
Phrasing – how to make it not sound like a computer generated it

7. Rhythm - Meter Odd and Even Combinations of 3 and 2
Meter of 4 (“4/4”) and 3 (“3/4” or waltz) are common
“Odd” meters are 5, 7, 9, 11, etc. And they sound “odd”
Meter of 5 can be thought of or counted as 2 + 3
Our example nanafly is a 12 beat cycle so even sounding
What beats are stressed? Can be one or more stresses and of varying loudness

8. Rhythm
rhythm_sheet_nanafly.xlsx

9. Deliverables Implement the new Pythag Dodecaphonic scale
After construction sort by frequency (base of 528Hz)
Play the new chromatic scale
1 second note duration
0 seconds silence between notes
Assign a pattern from nanofly spreadsheet to A, another to B
Parameterize your “play” function with the number of pattern A and the number of pattern B
Also parameterize by the tempo in BPM (beats per minute)
TEST NEXT WEEK
You can use the following during quiz:
spreadsheet living specs
your code
Will not cover rhythm
Will cover scales and comparing them to each other