Re:Mathematical explanation of music and white/black notes i...
by sampo on Thursday November 25, 2010 @07:29PM
(#1941340)
So if we stard from C, and take steps of fifths, we get the notes in the order: C, G, D, A, E, B, F#, C#, G#, D#, A#, F (and then C again).
It is true that if you take the first 5, you get a scale with pattern of intervals C-<2>-D-<2>-E-<3>-G-<2>-A-<3>-C, and then it you'd add the sixth note (B), that would be only 1 step from C. So if we aim for a "nice" distribution of intervals, 5-note scale is a good stopping point.
But your explanation doesn't give any light on why the 7-note scale would be the next stopping point.
It is true that if you take the first 5, you get a scale with pattern of intervals C-<2>-D-<2>-E-<3>-G-<2>-A-<3>-C, and then it you'd add the sixth note (B), that would be only 1 step from C. So if we aim for a "nice" distribution of intervals, 5-note scale is a good stopping point.
But your explanation doesn't give any light on why the 7-note scale would be the next stopping point.