Introducing the A2442c Pentatonic Parallel Scales

Example A2442c Tonality composition. Details and playable link below.

Introduction: The A2442c Pentatonic Parallel Scales provide a custom set of notes than can be used to bridge compositions in other tonalities and for independent compositions as well.

Basics: Here are the A2442c Pentatonic Parallel Scales:

Scale	Scale Tones
A24c Pentatonic Minor	A Bb B D Eb
A42c Pentatonic Major	A Bb Db D Eb

Theory: A24c and A42c are parallel minor and major pentatonic 5-note scales. Written in tone (pitch) notation they are A Bb B D Eb and A Bb Db D Eb. Written in interval (pitch difference) notation they are A11316 and A13116. A24c is minor because its first characteristic interval (root-mode) is smaller (2). A42c is major because its first characteristic interval (root-mode) is larger (4). A is the root tone of both scales, B and Db are the modes, and Eb is neutral. There are no active notes.

Bridge: A2442c is a custom parallel pentatonic scale pair constructed to contain notes bridging two other tonalities. Here are the A2442c notes and the bridged tonalities:

C3663 <=> A Bb B      Db D Eb <=> F2552 A2442c

Mirror Scales and Negative Harmony:  A24c and A42c are mirror reflections of each other. Mirror reflection is also called Negative Harmony. A note or chord selected from a minor scale can be reflected to a parallel note or chord in the parallel major scale.

Here are the A11316 and A13116 5-note scales shown using Negative Harmony where A reflects to Eb and back, and B reflects to Db and back. (Bb and D also reflect though they have no labeled function.)

		A (root)	Bb
	–			B (mode)
–			⇘	⇘	–
–		⇘		⇖	Db mode
	–		⇖	D
		–	Eb (neutral)

Tonality/Borrowing: A note, note progression, chord, or chord progression can be written using a) only the minor scale, b) only the major scale, or c) both. Using chords from both scales together is called borrowing. A composition using both minor and major scales and their chords can be said to be written using their full tonality.

Tonality Benefits: Using minor and major scales together gives additional note (melody) and chord (cadence) options for writing songs while staying within an overall tonal feel.

Chords: The use of trichords can be extended to use paired 2-tone, and paired 1-tone intervals:

Scale	Scale Tones	Chords	Chord Tones
A11316 (A24c)	A Bb B D Eb	A11 A23 A24	A Bb B A B D A B Eb
A13116 (A42c)	A Bb Db D Eb	Db11 Bb32 A42	Db D Eb Bb Db Eb A Db Eb
Combined	A Bb B Db D Eb	A22 B22	A B Db B Db Eb

Chord Functions: All A11316, A13116, and A112116 chord functions are Tonic (trichords contain Root and/or Mode notes only). Tonic chords may be considered to represent rest energy. 

Cadences: All A11316, A13116, and A112116 cadences are Statences (chord sequences are Tonic-Tonic only). Statence cadences may be considered to represent rest=>rest movement energy. 

Additional Scales: C3663 and F2552 are documented separately.

Transposing: The A2442c Pentatonic Parallel Scale Tones and Chords can be moved up or down in pitch to start on / be associated with a different root tone.

Example Composition: Bridge 11 A2442c

Fine Print: This post summarizes work and studies by James G Neville / Sitearm Madonna over the last 20 months. Adaptations and extensions of traditional music theory topics and notation as expressed in this post and associated scores are mine. Comments, questions, corrections are welcome.

Introducing the C3663 Pentatonic Parallel Scales

Example 3663 Tonality composition in C. Details and playable link below.

Introduction: The C3663 Pentatonic Parallel Scales provide an alternative set of notes that can be used to compose melodies (note sequences), chords (sets of simultaneous notes), and cadences (sequences of chords) for compositions expressed within an overall tonal feel. The use of 5-note instead of 7-note scales can result in pleasing new compositions especially when adding techniques of using parallel scales together.

Basics: The C3663 Pentatonic Parallel Scales consist of two 5-note scales each starting on C. The minor scale starts on C and goes next to Eb (3 tone interval). The major scale starts on C and goes next to Gb (6 tone interval). Both scales continue with A, Bb, and B. They repeat beginning at octave C’. Here are the C3663 Pentatonic Parallel Scales:

Scale	Scale Tones
C36 Pentatonic Minor	C Eb A Bb B
C63 Pentatonic Major	C Gb A Bb B

Theory: C36 and C63 are parallel minor and major pentatonic 5-note scales. Written in tone (pitch) notation they are C Eb A Bb B and C Gb A Bb B. Written in interval (pitch difference) notation they are C36111 and C63111. C36 is minor because its first characteristic interval is smaller (3). C63 is major because its first characteristic interval is larger (6). C is the root tone of both scales, Eb and Gb are the modes, A is neutral, and Bb and B are active. Bb is active because it immediately follows neutral A. B is active because it immediately precedes root C.

Comparison: C36111 and C63111 are analogous to the C minor and C major parallel minor and major diatonic 7-note scales. Written in interval notation those scales are C2122122 and C2212221. That they are minor and major can be seen by reexpressing them as 5-note scales C34122 and C43221. For those scales C is the root, Eb and E are the modes, G is neutral, and Ab and B are active.

Mirror Scales: C36111 and C63111 are mirror reflections of each other as can be seen by reexpressing them as C36111 <=> C11163. Continuing the comparison, C minor and C major are also mirror reflections (C34122 <=> C22143).

Negative Harmony: Mirror reflection is also called Negative Harmony. A note or chord selected from a minor scale can be reflected to a parallel note or chord in the parallel major scale.

Here are the C36111 and C63111 5-note scales shown using Negative Harmony where C reflects to A and back, Eb to Gb, and B to Bb:

	C root	–
B active			–
				Eb mode
⇑	⇑			⇑	–
⇓	⇓			⇓	–
				Gb mode
Bb active			–
	A neutral	–

Continuing the comparison, here are the C minor and C major 7-note scales shown using Negative Harmony where C reflects to G and back, Eb to E, and B to Ab. (D to F and Bb to A also reflect though they have no labeled function.)

		C root	–
	B active			D
Bb					Eb mode
A					E mode
	Ab active			F
		G neutral	–

Tonality/Borrowing: A note, note progression, chord, or chord progression can be written using a) only the minor scale, b) only the major scale, or c) both. Using chords from both scales together is called borrowing. A composition using both minor and major scales and their chords can be said to be written using their full tonality.

Tonality Benefits: Using minor and major scales together gives additional note (melody) and chord (cadence) options for writing songs while staying within an overall tonal feel. C36111 and C63111 have 5 notes each—together they have a total of 6. C minor and C major have 7 notes each—together they have 10. C36111 and C63111 have 3 trichords each—together they have a total of 10 (see table below).

Pentatonic Parallel Scale Motivation: The original motivation was to have a set of notes with which to compose tone sestets where, in each composition, six (6) musical expressions would be separated by five (5) musical spaces. This motivation has since been extended.

Chords: The use of trichords can be extended to include 2-tone intervals:

Scale	Scale Tones	Chords	Chord Tones
C36111	C Eb A Bb B	C36 A24 Bb23	C Eb A A B Eb Bb C Eb
C63111	C Gb A Bb B	C63 Gb42 Gb32	C Gb A Gb Bb C Gb A B
Combined	C Eb Gb A Bb B	C33 (Cdim) Eb33 (Ebdim) Eb34 (Ebmin) B43 (Bmaj)	C Eb Gb Eb Gb A Eb Gb Bb B Eb Gb

Chord Functions: The use of trichord functions can be extended to include ambivalence:

Note Type	Chord Type	Energy
Root and/or Mode	Tonic	Rest
No Mode + No Active	Subdominant	Float
No Mode + Active	Dominant	Urge
Root and/or Mode + Active	Ambivalent	Clash

Cadences: The use of cadences (chord sequences) can be extended to include ambivalence, statence, and driftance:

Chord Sequence	Cadence Type	Movement Energy
Ton-Ton	Statence	Rest=>Rest
Sub-Ton	Indirect Cadence	Float=>Rest
Dom-Ton	Direct Cadence	Urge=>Rest
Amb-Ton	Half Statence	Clash=>Rest
_-Sub	Driftance	Anything=>Float
_-Dom	Half Cadence	Anything=>Urge
_-Amb	Ambivalence	Anything=>Clash

Additional Scales: Here are eight identified-to-date penatonic parallel scale mirror pairs and their tonalities:

Tonality	Scales	Number of Tones	Number of Trichords
C2772	C27111 C72111 C252111	5 5 6	2 2 4
C3663	C36111 C63111 C333111	5 5 6	3 3 4
C2662	C26112 C62211 C2421111	5 5 7	3 3 6
C2332	C23331 C32133 C21212121	5 5 8	7 7 18
C3443	C34113 C43311 C31311111	5 5 8	5 5 14
C4554	C45111 C54111 C414111	5 5 6	3 3 0
C2442	C24411 C42114 C22211211	5 5 8	4 4 14
C2552	C25122 C52221 C23211111	5 5 8	5 5 14

Transposing: The C3663 Pentatonic Parallel Scale Tones and Chords can be moved up or down in pitch to start on / be associated with a different root tone.

Example Composition: Fresh Water 3663

Fine Print: This post summarizes work and studies by James G Neville / Sitearm Madonna over the last 20 months. Adaptations and extensions of traditional music theory topics and notation as expressed in this post and associated scores are mine. Comments, questions, corrections are welcome.

Recenter

Morning Aire

Morning Aire
Two people meet in morning walk
And greet the sun in stately waltz.
They tell their news with twirling steps
And part with friendly greetings.

Introducing the C2552 Pentatonic Parallel Scales

Example 2552 Tonality composition in F. Details and playable link below.

Introduction: The C2552 Pentatonic Parallel Scales provide an alternative set of notes that can be used to compose melodies (note sequences), chords (sets of simultaneous notes), and cadences (sequences of chords) for compositions expressed within an overall tonal feel. The use of 5-note instead of 7-note scales can result in pleasing new compositions especially when adding techniques of using parallel scales together.

Basics: The C2552 Pentatonic Parallel Scales consist of two 5-note scales each starting on C. The minor scale starts on C and goes next to D (2 tone interval). The major scale starts on C and goes next to F (5 tone interval). Both scales continue with G. They differ then repeat beginning at octave C’. Here are the C2552 Pentatonic Parallel Scales:

Scale	Scale Tones
C25 Pentatonic Minor	C D G Ab Bb
C52 Pentatonic Major	C F G A B

Theory: C25 and C52 are parallel minor and major pentatonic 5-note scales. Written in tone (pitch) notation they are C D G Ab Bb and C F G A B. Written in interval (pitch difference) notation they are C25122 and C52221. C25 is minor because its first characteristic interval is smaller (2). C52 is major because its first characteristic interval is larger (5). C is the root tone of both scales, D and F are the modes, G is neutral, and Ab and B are active. Ab is active because it immediately follows neutral G. B is active because it immediately precedes root C.

Comparison: C25122 and C52221 are analogous to the C minor and C major parallel minor and major diatonic 7-note scales. Written in interval notation those scales are C2122122 and C2212221. That they are minor and major can be seen by reexpressing them as 5-note scales C34122 and C43221. For those scales C is the root, Eb and E are the modes, G is neutral, and Ab and B are active.

Mirror Scales: C25122 and C52221 are mirror reflections of each other as can be seen by reexpressing them as C25122 <=> C22152. Continuing the comparison, C minor and C major are also mirror reflections (C34122 <=> C22143).

Negative Harmony: Mirror reflection is also called Negative Harmony. A note or chord selected from a minor scale can be reflected to a parallel note or chord in the parallel major scale.

Here are the C25122 and C52221 5-note scales shown using Negative Harmony where C reflects to G and back, D to F, and B to Ab. (Bb and A also reflect though they have no labeled function.)

		C root	–
	B active			D mode
Bb	⇑	⇑		⇑	–
A	⇓	⇓		⇓	–
	Ab active			F mode
		G neutral	–

Continuing the comparison, here are the C minor and C major 7-note scales shown using Negative Harmony where C reflects to G and back, Eb to E, and B to Ab. (D to F and Bb to A also reflect though they have no labeled function.)

		C root	–
	B active			D
Bb					Eb mode
A					E mode
	Ab active			F
		G neutral	–

Tonality/Borrowing: A note, note progression, chord, or chord progression can be written using a) only the minor scale, b) only the major scale, or c) both. Using chords from both scales together is called borrowing. A composition using both minor and major scales and their chords can be said to be written using their full tonality.

Tonality Benefits: Using minor and major scales together gives additional note (melody) and chord (cadence) options for writing songs while staying within an overall tonal feel. C25122 and C52221 have 5 notes each—together they have a total of 8. C minor and C major have 7 notes each—together they have 10. C25122 and C52221 have 5 trichords each—together they have a total of 24 (see table below).

Pentatonic Parallel Scale Motivation: The original motivation was to have a set of notes with which to compose tone sestets where, in each composition, six (6) musical expressions would be separated by five (5) musical spaces. This motivation has since been extended.

Chords: The use of trichords can be extended to include 2-tone intervals:

Scale	Scale Tones	Chords	Chord Tones
C25122	C D G Ab Bb	C25 G34 (Gmin) G32 Ab24 Ab42	C D G G Bb D G Bb C Ab Bb D Ab C D
C52221	C F G A B	C52 F43 (Fmaj) G23 F42 F24	C F G F A C G A C F A B F G B
Combined	C D F G Ab A Bb B	C23 D32 D34 (Dmin) Bb43 (Bbmaj) D52 Bb25 A32 F23 D33 (Ddim) B33 (Bdim) A23 F32 Ab33 (Abdim) F33 (Fdim)	C D F D F G D F A Bb D F D G A Bb C F A C D F G Bb D F Ab B D F A B D F Ab Bb Ab B D F Ab B

Chord Functions: The use of trichord functions can be extended to include ambivalence:

Note Type	Chord Type	Energy
Root and/or Mode	Tonic	Rest
No Mode + No Active	Subdominant	Float
No Mode + Active	Dominant	Urge
Root and/or Mode + Active	Ambivalent	Clash

Cadences: The use of cadences (chord sequences) can be extended to include ambivalence, statence, and driftance:

Chord Sequence	Cadence Type	Movement Energy
Ton-Ton	Statence	Rest=>Rest
Sub-Ton	Indirect Cadence	Float=>Rest
Dom-Ton	Direct Cadence	Urge=>Rest
Amb-Ton	Half Statence	Clash=>Rest
_-Sub	Driftance	Anything=>Float
_-Dom	Half Cadence	Anything=>Urge
_-Amb	Ambivalence	Anything=>Clash

Additional Scales: Here are eight identified-to-date penatonic parallel scale mirror pairs and their tonalities:

Tonality	Scales	Number of Tones	Number of Trichords
C2772	C27111 C72111 C252111	5 5 6	2 2 4
C3663	C36111 C63111 C333111	5 5 6	3 3 4
C2662	C26112 C62211 C2421111	5 5 7	3 3 6
C2332	C23331 C32133 C21212121	5 5 8	7 7 18
C3443	C34113 C43311 C31311111	5 5 8	5 5 14
C4554	C45111 C54111 C414111	5 5 6	3 3 0
C2442	C24411 C42114 C22211211	5 5 8	4 4 14
C2552	C25122 C52221 C23211111	5 5 8	5 5 14

Transposing: The C2552 Pentatonic Parallel Scale Tones and Chords can be moved up or down in pitch to start on / be associated with a different root tone.

Example Composition: Morning Aire F2552 – Figures & Cadences & Dynamics

Fine Print: This post summarizes work and studies by James G Neville / Sitearm Madonna over the last 19 months. Adaptations and extensions of traditional music theory topics and notation as expressed in this post and associated scores are mine. Comments, questions, corrections are welcome.

Compassion

Morning Mantra