1---
2title: Xenharmonic Functions
3layout: ../../layouts/MainLayout.astro
4---
5
6import { MiniRepl } from '../../docs/MiniRepl';
7import { JsDoc } from '../../docs/JsDoc';
8
9# Xenharmonic Functions (experimental)
10
11{/* TODO expand explanation of xenharmony */}
12
13These functions allow the use of scales other than your typical chromatic 12 based ones.
14
15### tune(scale)
16
17{/* TODO (maybe): combine jsdoc things in tune.mjs with here */}
18
19<JsDoc client:idle name="tune" h={0} />
20
21Here's an example of how to configure a basic hexany scale:
22
23<MiniRepl client:idle tune={`i("0 1 2 3 4 5").tune("hexany15").mul("220").freq()`} />
24
25Try other scales like `hexany1`, `iraq`, `gumbeng`, `gunkali`, or `tranh3`
26
27For a full list of available scales from tunejs, see http://abbernie.github.io/tune/scales.html
28
29You can set your root to be a particular note with `getFreq`
30
31<MiniRepl
32  client:idle
33  tune={`i("4 8 9 10 - - 5 7 9 11 - -").tune("tranh3")
34    .mul(getFreq('c3'))
35    .freq().clip(.5).room(1)`}
36/>
37
38Some tunings become more pronounced with a longer reverb decay:
39
40<MiniRepl
41  client:idle
42  tune={`i("<[5 6 8 10] - [5 7 9 12] -> -").tune("gumbeng")
43  .mul(getFreq('c3'))
44  .freq().clip(.8).room("3:10").rdim(10000).rfade(5)`}
45/>
46
47Additionally, you can combo this with `fmap` so that the base note changes:
48
49<MiniRepl
50  client:idle
51  tune={`i("9 11 12 10 - - -").tune("gunkali")
52  .mul("<c3 c3 a3 d#3>".fmap(getFreq))
53  .freq().legato("2 .7").room("1:15").rdim(8500).rlp(14000).rfade(8)`}
54/>
55
56Combining this with various polyrhythm tricks can become very evocative:
57
58<MiniRepl
59  client:idle
60  tune={`i("<[0 3 1 -] [-1 4 2 8]> ~ ~,<-4 -5>".add(4))
61  .tune("iraq")
62  .mul("<c3 d3 c#3>".fmap(getFreq))
63  .freq().clip(.5).room(1).rfade(9)`}
64/>
65
66Another helpful trick when exploring new tunings is to strum them.
67Many have a much more enchanting sound that was chosen over many generations of musicians for being strummed.
68
69Take the `sanza` tuning:
70
71<MiniRepl
72  client:idle
73  tune={`i("4 5 6 7 8 9").tune("sanza")
74  .mul(getFreq('c3'))
75  .freq()`}
76/>
77
78Notes 7 and 9 will clash quite a bit if you arp them normally. Many tunings will have this sort of sound, and it can feel distracting on its own.
79See how close they are on the pitch wheel?
80
81<MiniRepl client:idle tune={`i("[7 9]!3").tune("sanza").mul(getFreq('c3')).freq()._pitchwheel()`} />
82
83This quality is often due to how the tunings were formed with instruments that were played differently than a piano.
84As such, some tunings are much better strummed, with the subtle clash of the detuned notes actually making the sound much more magical:
85
86<MiniRepl
87  client:idle
88  tune={`i("[0 1 2 3 4 5 6]@0.3 -"
89  .add("<2 5 8 1>"))
90  .tune("sanza")
91  .mul(getFreq('c3')).freq()
92  .legato("3").room(1).rfade(5)`}
93/>
94
95Note the legato and reverb effects make sure the sound of the strumming gets to wash together. Alternating the direction of the strum can make the
96tones sound even more alive, too.
97
98The `tranh3` tuning has a similar set of notes, with two clashing. You might trying plugging that in above and see if you find a favorite strumming pattern.
99
100You can also give tune a list of frequencies to use as the scale:
101
102<MiniRepl
103  client:idle
104  tune={`i("0 1 2 3 4").tune([
105    261.6255653006, 
106    302.72962012827, 
107    350.29154279212, 
108    405.32593044476, 
109    469.00678383895, 
110    523.2511306012
111  ]).mul(220).freq();`}
112/>
113
114### xen(scaleOrRatios)
115
116{/* TODO add explanation of EDO to documentation */}
117
118<JsDoc client:idle name="Pattern.xen" h={0} />