Delta scale

Minor second  Play 

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 . 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 ) and the 9:7:5 "narrow" triad ( Play ) (rather than the conventional 4:5:6 triad). Notes include:^[2]

1:1  Play 

25:21  Play 

9:7  Play 

75:49  Play 

5:3  Play 

9:5  Play 

15:7  Play 

7:3  Play 

25:9  Play 

3:1  Play 

See also

• Alpha scale
• Beta 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.