Tuning recommendations for beginners

This article is intended to list the optimal tunings for a new xenharmonist to start with. It is recommended to pick one early and focus on it so that tuning theory does not become more important than composition.

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This section is written from the perspective of User:Ground and may feature proposed concepts.

This is my list of the most versatile microtonal tunings, split into two tiers:

Absolute best: 19edo, 22edo, 24edo, 31edo, 41edo.

Second best: 17edo, 26edo, 27edo, 29edo, 37edo.

I intend to add sound examples to make the selection process easier.

• 19edo: The best when it comes to simple practical composition. Similar to 31edo, but smaller.
• 29edo: Translates popular 12edo music well because it has a perfect fifth very close to 3/2. Most composers will be fine using a different tuning though.
• 31edo: Something of a standard. Easy to use and full of consonant intervals, but on the larger side.
• 37edo: A highly efficient and interesting array of intervals, but no clear perfect fifth. Requires an understanding of straddling to be used on the same level as the others.