21edo

From Xenharmonic Reference
Revision as of 23:11, 22 January 2026 by Inthar (talk | contribs)

21edo is an equal division of the octave into 21 steps of 1200c/21 ~= 57.1c each.

Notable scales:

  • 21edo is the first edo with a diasem scale: 323132313 (RH) or 313231323 (LH). Diasem provides basic 2.3.7 harmony, though 7/6 and 28/27 are not accurate at all in 21edo.
  • Slentonic (5L6s, sLsLsLsLsLs), interpreted as Slendric[11], generated by stacking the ~8/7 (4\21)
  • Oneirotonic (5L3s, LLsLLsLs), generated by stacking 8\21

Basic theory

Intervals and notation

Since 21edo's best fifth is from 7edo, 21edo is notated with CDEFGAB representing 7edo and up/down representing 1\21.

Prime harmonic approximations

Approximation of prime harmonics in 21edo
Harmonic 2 3 5 7 11 13 17 19 23 29 31
Error Absolute (¢) 0.0 -16.2 +13.7 +2.6 +20.1 +16.6 +9.3 -11.8 +0.3 -1.0 -2.2
Relative (%) 0.0 -28.4 +24.0 +4.6 +35.2 +29.1 +16.3 -20.6 +0.5 -1.8 -3.8
Steps

(reduced)

21

(0)

33

(12)

49

(7)

59

(17)

73

(10)

78

(15)

86

(2)

89

(5)

95

(11)

102

(18)

104

(20)

Edostep interpretations

21edo's edostep has the following interpretations in the 2.3.5.7.23.29.31 subgroup:

  • 32/31
  • 31/30
  • 30/29
  • 29/28
  • 49/48
  • 46/45
  • 64/63