Class: Musa::Scales::WholeToneScaleKind

Inherits:
ScaleKind show all
Defined in:
lib/musa-dsl/music/scale_kinds/symmetric/whole_tone_scale_kind.rb

Overview

Whole tone scale kind.

WholeToneScaleKind defines the whole tone scale, a six-note symmetric scale where every interval is a whole step (major second). It has a dreamy, ambiguous quality with no clear tonal center.

Pitch Structure

6 degrees plus extended:

Scale Degrees:

  • I (_1): Root (0 semitones)
  • II (_2): Major second (2 semitones)
  • III (_3): Major third (4 semitones)
  • IV# (_4): Augmented fourth (6 semitones)
  • V# (_5): Augmented fifth (8 semitones)
  • VII (_6): Minor seventh (10 semitones)

Symmetric Properties

  • Only 2 distinct whole tone scales exist (C and C#)
  • Every note can function as the root
  • Divides the octave into 6 equal parts
  • No perfect fifths = no strong harmonic function

Musical Character

The whole tone scale:

  • Dreamy, floating, ambiguous quality
  • No leading tones or tendency tones
  • Associated with impressionism (Debussy)
  • Used over augmented and dominant 7#5 chords

Usage

c_whole = Scales[:et12][440.0][:whole_tone][60]
c_whole[0].pitch  # C (60)
c_whole[3].pitch  # F# (66)

See Also:

Constant Summary collapse

@@pitches = 
[{ functions: %i[I _1 tonic first],
pitch: 0 },
             { functions: %i[II _2 second],
pitch: 2 },
             { functions: %i[III _3 third],
pitch: 4 },
             { functions: %i[IV _4 fourth],
pitch: 6 },
             { functions: %i[V _5 fifth],
pitch: 8 },
             { functions: %i[VI _6 sixth],
pitch: 10 },
             { functions: %i[VII _7 seventh],
pitch: 12 },
             { functions: %i[VIII _8 eighth],
pitch: 12 + 2 },
             { functions: %i[IX _9 ninth],
pitch: 12 + 4 },
             { functions: %i[X _10 tenth],
pitch: 12 + 6 },
             { functions: %i[XI _11 eleventh],
pitch: 12 + 8 },
             { functions: %i[XII _12 twelfth],
pitch: 12 + 10 }].freeze

Class Method Summary collapse

Constructor Details

This class inherits a constructor from Musa::Scales::ScaleKind

Class Method Details

.grades ⇒ Object 



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# File 'lib/musa-dsl/music/scale_kinds/symmetric/whole_tone_scale_kind.rb', line 87

def grades
  6
end

.id ⇒ Object 



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# File 'lib/musa-dsl/music/scale_kinds/symmetric/whole_tone_scale_kind.rb', line 91

def id
  :whole_tone
end

.pitches ⇒ Object 



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# File 'lib/musa-dsl/music/scale_kinds/symmetric/whole_tone_scale_kind.rb', line 83

def pitches
  @@pitches
end