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'''Archy''', also called '''[[Perfect fifth#Tuning range|Superpyth]]''' (after its tuning range), is the temperament that tempers out the '''archytas comma,''' 64/63, equating [[2.3.7 subgroup|septal]] intervals with nearby [[Pythagorean tuning|diatonic]] ones. In Archy, the generator is a fourth, the period is an octave, and 2 flattened [[Perfect fourth|fourths]] of about 490 cents stack to a sharply tuned [[Septal subminor seventh|7th harmonic]] of about 980 cents. Equivalently, two sharpened fifths (octave-reduced) reach a major second that is both the [[septal supermajor second]] (8/7) and the [[diatonic major second]], leading to the name "Superpyth".
'''Archy''', also called '''[[Perfect fifth#Tuning range|Superpyth]]''' (after its tuning range), is the temperament that tempers out the '''archytas comma,''' 64/63, equating [[2.3.7 subgroup|septal]] intervals with nearby [[Pythagorean tuning|diatonic]] ones. In Archy, the generator is a fourth, the period is an octave, and 2 flattened [[Perfect fourth|fourths]] of about 490 cents stack to a sharply tuned [[Septal subminor seventh|7th harmonic]] of about 980 cents. Equivalently, the pythagorean (9/8) major second is mapped to the same pitch as the septimal (8/7) major second.


Archy is usually tuned such that the [[septal supermajor third]] and [[septal subminor third]] (9/7 and 7/6) are the most accurately tuned; flatter tunings of the fourth lead to more accurate tunings of the 7th harmonic, at the cost of the usability of the diatonic scale, with the tuning leaving the 7th harmonic just being a fourth of around 484 cents.  
Archy is usually tuned such that the subminor (7/6) third is close to accurately tuned; flatter tunings of the fourth lead to more accurate tunings of the 7th harmonic, at the cost of the usability of the diatonic scale. The tuning that leaves the harmonic seventh just places the perfect fourth at 484.4 cents, which leads to a diatonic scale with a small step at the uncomfortable size of 22 cents.  


As a monocot temperament (a temperament generated by a perfect fourth or fifth), Archy can be notated with standard [[Diatonic notation|diatonic]] notation. However, this is somewhat awkward, as Archy is more cleanly analyzed as a 5-form temperament, producing an [[equipentatonic]] scale, so perhaps diamond-MOS or KISS notation with [[pentic]] would be better suited for it. It is unsurprisingly supported by 5edo, as well as by 17edo, which can be seen as bounds on the tuning range for archy. Consequently, diatonic edos approaching 5edo (22edo, 27edo, etc) also tend to support Archy.
As a monocot temperament (a temperament generated by a perfect fourth or fifth), Archy can be notated with standard [[Diatonic notation|diatonic]] notation. However, this is somewhat awkward, as Archy is more cleanly analyzed as a 5-form temperament, producing an [[equipentatonic]] scale, so perhaps diamond-MOS or KISS notation with [[pentic]] would be better suited for it.


== Structural theory ==
== Structural theory ==


=== Extensions ===
=== Extensions ===
If an unmapped (not equated to a stack of anything else, as [[Classical major third|5/4]] is in blackwood) prime 5 is introduced as a second generator, then the result can be called Archytas.5.
The following are extensions to prime 5 (i. e. ways to map intervals involving prime 5 onto the existing structure of 2.3.7 archy)


Extensions to prime 5 (interpretations of Archy that incorporate 5/4 into the diatonic structure) follow:
==== 5/4 as limma-flat major third (22 & 27), often called "Superpyth" ====
 
The canonical extension, equates 5/4 with the diatonic augmented second, or an octave-reduced stack of 9 fifths, which can be seen in the 5-form as a major third flattened by a diatonic semitone representing the [[septimal quartertone]] (36/35, the interval between 5/4 and 9/7) and the [[Meantone|syntonic comma]]. It can be seen as the 22 & 27 temperament. The preferred tuning range for the fifth in this extension tends to be somewhat flatter than that of archy; tunings where both the supermajor (9/7) and subminor (7/6) thirds are somewhat accurate are preferred.
==== 5/4 as limma-flat major third (22 & 27) ====
The canonical extension, equates 5/4 with the diatonic augmented second, or an octave-reduced stack of 9 fifths, which can be seen in the 5-form as a major third flattened by a diatonic semitone representing the [[septimal quartertone]] (36/35, the interval between 5/4 and 9/7) and the [[Meantone|syntonic comma]]. It can be seen as the 22 & 27 temperament, and 22edo is the usual tuning.


==== 5/4 as doubly limma-flat major third (5 & 37) ====
==== 5/4 as doubly limma-flat major third (5 & 37) ====
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=== Chords ===
=== Chords ===
In Archy, the diatonic major and minor chords essentially have their roles swapped from in meantone, as they now represent the [[Collection of chords|supermajor triad]] and [[Collection of chords|subminor triad]] respectively, and the minor chord is the more stable of the two. This can be seen by how the supermajor third is, in the 5-form, a flat fourth, serving a somewhat similar role to the diminished fifth in diatonic. The suspended triad is an [[Collection of chords#Essentially tempered chords|essentially tempered chord]] here, stacking 4/3 twice to reach 7/4 in its non-fifth-bounded inversion. Due to the widening of the major second, suspended triads may also be seen as consonant, if somewhat colorless.
In Archy, the diatonic major and minor chords essentially have their roles swapped from in meantone, as they now represent the [[Collection of chords|supermajor triad]] and [[Collection of chords|subminor triad]] respectively, and the minor chord is the more stable of the two. This can be seen by how the supermajor third is, in the 5-form, a flat fourth, serving a somewhat similar role to the diminished fifth in diatonic. The sus4 and sus2 triads are [[Collection of chords#Essentially tempered chords|essentially tempered chords]] here, stacking 4/3 twice to reach 7/4.


Due to existing in 2.3.7, Archy also supports the latal triads (bounded by a fourth, made from intervals near 250c, like 6:7:8), with 1/1-8/7-4/3 in particular appearing as part of the suspended tetrad.
Due to existing in 2.3.7, Archy also supports the latal triads (bounded by a fourth, made from intervals near 250c, like 6:7:8), with 1/1-8/7-4/3 in particular appearing as part of the suspended tetrad.


{{cat|Temperaments}}
{{cat|Temperaments}}

Revision as of 22:09, 27 January 2026

Archy, also called Superpyth (after its tuning range), is the temperament that tempers out the archytas comma, 64/63, equating septal intervals with nearby diatonic ones. In Archy, the generator is a fourth, the period is an octave, and 2 flattened fourths of about 490 cents stack to a sharply tuned 7th harmonic of about 980 cents. Equivalently, the pythagorean (9/8) major second is mapped to the same pitch as the septimal (8/7) major second.

Archy is usually tuned such that the subminor (7/6) third is close to accurately tuned; flatter tunings of the fourth lead to more accurate tunings of the 7th harmonic, at the cost of the usability of the diatonic scale. The tuning that leaves the harmonic seventh just places the perfect fourth at 484.4 cents, which leads to a diatonic scale with a small step at the uncomfortable size of 22 cents.

As a monocot temperament (a temperament generated by a perfect fourth or fifth), Archy can be notated with standard diatonic notation. However, this is somewhat awkward, as Archy is more cleanly analyzed as a 5-form temperament, producing an equipentatonic scale, so perhaps diamond-MOS or KISS notation with pentic would be better suited for it.

Structural theory

Extensions

The following are extensions to prime 5 (i. e. ways to map intervals involving prime 5 onto the existing structure of 2.3.7 archy)

5/4 as limma-flat major third (22 & 27), often called "Superpyth"

The canonical extension, equates 5/4 with the diatonic augmented second, or an octave-reduced stack of 9 fifths, which can be seen in the 5-form as a major third flattened by a diatonic semitone representing the septimal quartertone (36/35, the interval between 5/4 and 9/7) and the syntonic comma. It can be seen as the 22 & 27 temperament. The preferred tuning range for the fifth in this extension tends to be somewhat flatter than that of archy; tunings where both the supermajor (9/7) and subminor (7/6) thirds are somewhat accurate are preferred.

5/4 as doubly limma-flat major third (5 & 37)

This is an alternative extension, best tuned sharp of 27edo. Instead of flattening the major third by a diatonic semitone to reach the 5th harmonic, you flatten by two diatonic semitones. In diatonic notation, this means that 5/4 is the double-augmented unison.

Compositional theory

Chords

In Archy, the diatonic major and minor chords essentially have their roles swapped from in meantone, as they now represent the supermajor triad and subminor triad respectively, and the minor chord is the more stable of the two. This can be seen by how the supermajor third is, in the 5-form, a flat fourth, serving a somewhat similar role to the diminished fifth in diatonic. The sus4 and sus2 triads are essentially tempered chords here, stacking 4/3 twice to reach 7/4.

Due to existing in 2.3.7, Archy also supports the latal triads (bounded by a fourth, made from intervals near 250c, like 6:7:8), with 1/1-8/7-4/3 in particular appearing as part of the suspended tetrad.