Pitch-Class Set Theory Basics
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Pitch-Class Set Theory Basics

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Questions and Answers

What is the pitch class represented by 0?

  • D
  • C (correct)
  • D#
  • C#
  • What is the pitch class represented by 1?

  • D
  • C
  • C# (correct)
  • D#
  • What is the pitch class represented by 2?

  • C#
  • D (correct)
  • C
  • D#
  • What is the pitch class represented by 3?

    <p>D#</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the pitch class represented by 4?

    <p>E</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the pitch class represented by 5?

    <p>F</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the pitch class represented by 6?

    <p>F#</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the pitch class represented by 7?

    <p>G</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the pitch class represented by 8?

    <p>A#</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the pitch class represented by 9?

    <p>A</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the pitch class represented by 10?

    <p>A#</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the pitch class represented by 11?

    <p>B</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What do you do with Mod-12 for positive numbers?

    <p>subtract 12</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What do you do with Mod-12 for negative numbers?

    <p>add 12</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a pitch class interval?

    <p>exact number of half steps between 2 notes</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is an ordered pitch class interval?

    <p>the pitch class interval ascending from the 1st to 2nd pitch class</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is an unordered pitch class interval?

    <p>the shortest distance between 2 pitch classes</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What do you do with unordered pitch class intervals larger than 6?

    <p>reduce them to their complement</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is an interval class?

    <p>the shortest distance between 2 pitch classes</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a pitch class set?

    <p>unordered collection of pitch classes with no repetitions</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a dyad?

    <p>2 note set</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a trichord?

    <p>3 note set</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a tetrachord?

    <p>4 note set</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a pentachord?

    <p>5 note set</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a hexachord?

    <p>6 note set</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is an interval class vector?

    <p>tally of the interval classes in a set</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a normal order?

    <p>a list of the pitch classes in ascending order in the most compact form</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How do you find the normal order of a set?

    <ol> <li>exclude the largest interval; 2. list the pitch classes ascending after the largest interval; 3. compare potential normal orders</li> </ol> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    Pitch-Class Set Theory Basics

    • Pitch class is defined by notes sharing the same name but differing in octave.
    • Each pitch class corresponds to an integer from 0 to 11.

    Individual Pitch Classes

    • 0 corresponds to C.
    • 1 corresponds to C# (or Db).
    • 2 corresponds to D.
    • 3 corresponds to D# (or Eb).
    • 4 corresponds to E.
    • 5 corresponds to F.
    • 6 corresponds to F# (or Gb).
    • 7 corresponds to G.
    • 8 corresponds to G# (or Ab).
    • 9 corresponds to A.
    • 10 corresponds to A# (or Bb).
    • 11 corresponds to B.

    Modulus Operations

    • Mod-12 for positive numbers requires subtracting 12.
    • Mod-12 for negative numbers requires adding 12 to return to a positive pitch class.

    Pitch Class Intervals

    • Pitch class interval indicates the exact number of half steps between two notes.
    • Ordered pitch class interval is assessed by moving in an ascending (clockwise) direction.
    • Unordered pitch class interval (or interval class) measures the shortest distance between two pitch classes; only six possible intervals exist.
    • Intervals larger than six must be simplified to their complement.

    Collections of Pitch Classes

    • A pitch class set is an unordered collection of distinct pitch classes.
    • Specific terms define the number of notes in a set:
      • Dyad for a 2-note set.
      • Trichord for a 3-note set.
      • Tetrachord for a 4-note set.
      • Pentachord for a 5-note set.
      • Hexachord for a 6-note set.

    Interval Class Vector and Normal Order

    • The interval class vector is a tally of the interval classes present in a set.
    • Normal order arranges pitch classes in ascending order (mod-12) to achieve the most compact representation.
    • To determine the normal order:
      • Exclude the largest interval.
      • List remaining pitch classes in ascending order.
      • For ties, list potential normal orders and select the one with the smallest ordered intervals.

    Additional Pitch Classes

    • Db corresponds to 1.
    • Eb corresponds to 3.
    • Gb corresponds to 6.
    • Ab corresponds to 8.
    • Bb corresponds to 10.

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    Description

    This quiz covers the fundamentals of pitch-class set theory, including the definition of pitch classes, their integer representations, and how to calculate pitch class intervals using modulus operations. Test your understanding of the relationships between notes and their intervals.

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