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The γ (gamma) scale is a non-octave repeating musical scale invented by Wendy Carlos while preparing Beauty in the Beast (1986) though it does not appear on the album. It is derived from approximating just intervals using multiples of a single interval without, as is standard in equal temperaments, requiring an octave (2:1). It may be approximated by splitting the perfect fifth (3:2) into 20 equal parts (3:2≈35.1 cents), by splitting the neutral third into two equal parts, or ten equal parts of approximately 35.1 cents each (Play) for 34.188 steps per octave.

The scale step may also precisely be derived from using 20:11 (B↓, 1035 cents, Play) to approximate the interval 3:2⁄5:4, which equals 6:5 (E♭, 315.64 cents, Play). Thus the step is approximately 35.099 cents and there are 34.1895 per octave.

${\displaystyle {\frac {20\log _{2}{(3/2)}+11\log _{2}{(5/4)}+9\log _{2}{(6/5)}}{20^{2}+11^{2}+9^{2}}}=0.0292487852}$ and ${\displaystyle 0.0292487852\times 1200=35.0985422804}$ (Play)

"It produces nearly perfect triads." "A 'third flavor', sort of intermediate to 'alpha' and 'beta', although a melodic diatonic scale is easily available."

See also

• Alpha scale
• Beta scale
• Delta scale
• Bohlen–Pierce scale
• Gamma chord

References

1. ^ Carlos, Wendy (1989–96). "Three Asymmetric Divisions of the Octave", WendyCarlos.com.
2. ^ Benson, Dave (2006). Music: A Mathematical Offering, p.232-233. ISBN 0-521-85387-7. "Carlos has 34.188 γ-scale degrees to the octave, corresponding to a scale degree of 35.1 cents."
3. Milano, Dominic (November 1986). "A Many-Colored Jungle of Exotic Tunings", Keyboard.

v t e Microtonal music
Composers	Richard Barrett Béla Bartók Easley Blackwood Jr. Heinz Bohlen Julián Carrillo Franklin Cox Mildred Couper John Eaton Brian Ferneyhough Michael Finnissy Bjørn Fongaard Alois Hába Christiaan Huygens Charles Ives Ben Johnston György Ligeti Stu Mackenzie Claus-Steffen Mahnkopf Joel Mandelbaum Joe Maneri Roger Redgate John Schneider Sevish Ezra Sims Nicola Vicentino Claude Vivier Elaine Walker Ivan Wyschnegradsky La Monte Young
Inventors	Glenn Branca Wendy Carlos Ivor Darreg Adriaan Fokker Lou Harrison Yuri Landman Harry Partch Tui St. George Tucker Nicola Vicentino
Tunings and scales	Non-octave- repeating scales Alpha scale Beta scale Gamma scale Delta scale Lambda scale (Bohlen–Pierce scale) Equal temperament 15 17 19 22 23 24 31 34 41 53 58 72 96 Just intonation Harry Partch's 43-tone scale Double diatonic
Concepts and techniques	Limit Otonality and Utonality Semitone Sonido 13 Xenharmonicity Tonality diamond
Groups and publications	Boston Microtonal Society Genesis of a Music Huygens-Fokker Foundation
Compositions	Beauty in the Beast quarter tone pieces just pieces Mother Sonata for Microtonal Piano Suite for Microtonal Piano Twelve Microtonal Etudes for Electronic Music Media Flying Microtonal Banana K.G. L.W.
Other topics	Enharmonic keyboard Generalized keyboard Modernism (music)

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