A.

Brinkman Class Notes

The Octatonic Scale

The octatonic scale, which consists of alternating half and whole steps, can be constructed from any two non-intersecting
diminished seventh chords. Since there are three diminished seventh chords (discounting enharmonic spelling), three distinct
octatonic scales result. These are identified by the pitch-class numbers of the first half-step on or above C (0). Also note that
the octatonic scale always alternates two even pcs and two odd pcs.
X

Oct.0,1 (X Y)

Oct.1,2 (Y Z)

Oct.2,3 (X Z)

There are four tritones in the each octatonic scale, (2 even, and two odd):

Besides the diminished seventh chord model shown above, there are a number of other ways to partition the octatonic scale
into equivalent sets. Some of these are shown below: (Oct.2,3 shown here)

1. 4-10(0235) [minor] tetrachords at the tritone

(tritone between sets)

2. 4-3(0134) tetrachords at the tritone

(tritone between sets)

4. 4-25(0268) tetrachords (French 6th chords)

(tritone within sets, even vs. odd)

5. 4-9(0167) tetrachords at the minor third

(one even and one odd tritone within each set)

3. 4-26(0358) tetrachords (minor-minor 7th chords)

at the tritone (tritone between sets)

Other common sonorities also occur in the scale. Locate all of the major triads, minor triads, and Dominant 7th chords in the
Oct.0,1 scale below (enharmonic spelling permitted).

A. Brinkman

Equal Partitions of the Octatonic (from page 1)

localhost:42> prime
type set: 0235
0235
= t0p(4-10)

{0235} 10

0 122010 72 11113333 2127

type pc set: 689b

689b
= t6p(4-10)

{0235} 10

0 122010 72 11113333 2127

type pc set: 2356

2356
= t2p( 4-3)

{0134} 26

0 212100 74 11003322 1218

type pc set: 89b0

89b0
= t8p( 4-3)

{0134} 26

0 212100 74 11003322 1218

type pc set: 0259

9025
= t9p(4-26)

{0358}

0 012120 36 11003322 3234

type pc set: 368b

368b
= t3p(4-26)

{0358}

0 012120 36 11003322 3234

type pc set: 2389

2389
= t2p( 4-9)

{0167}

0 200022 43 22226666 1515

type pc set: 56b0

56b0
= t5p( 4-9)

{0167}

0 200022 43 22226666 1515

type pc set: ^C
localhost:43>

A. Brinkman

Trichordal Subsets of the Octatonic Scale

Page 1 of 2

localhost:41> partition 8-28

***
subject: 0134679a
= 8-28 {0134679a}

Row/Set-Class Partition Table

z0

m28

ic:[448444]

inv:(44440000)

***

cycle:<12121212>

partition size = 3
3-2 {013} z0 m7 ic:[111000] inv:(10005655)
========================
0134679a
position
========================
013
012
01
a
017
0
9a
067
134
123
346
234
467
345
679
456
79a
567
-----------------------8
3-3 {014} z0 m11 ic:[101100]
========================
0134679a
position
========================
01 4
013
01
9
016
0 34
023
1
9a
167
34 7
235
3 67
245
67 a
457
6 9a
467
-----------------------8

inv:(10005655)

3-5 {016} z0 m5 ic:[100011] inv:(10016776)

========================
0134679a
position
========================
01 6
014
01
7
015
0
67
045
1 67
145
34 9
236
34
a
237
3
9a
267
4 9a
367
-----------------------8

cycle:<129>

cycle:<138>

cycle:<156>

A. Brinkman

Trichordal Subsets of the Octatonic Scale

3-7 {025} z0 m2 ic:[011010] inv:(10005655)

========================
0134679a
position
========================
0 3
a
027
0
79
056
0
7 a
057
13 6
124
13
a
127
1 46
134
46 9
346
4 79
356
-----------------------8

cycle:<237>

3-8 {026} z0 m8 ic:[010101] inv:(10016776)

========================
0134679a
position
========================
0 46
034
0 4
a
037
0
6 a
047
13 7
125
13
9
126
1
79
156
3 79
256
46 a
347
-----------------------8

cycle:<246>

3-10 {036} z0 m10 ic:[002001]

========================
0134679a
position
========================
0 3 6
024
0 3
9
026
0
6 9
046
1 4 7
135
1 4
a
137
1
7 a
157
3 6 9
246
4 7 a
357
-----------------------8
3-11 {037} z0 m3 ic:[001110]
========================
0134679a
position
========================
0 3 7
025
0 4 7
035
0 4 9
036
1 4 9
136
1 6 9
146
1 6 a
147
3 6 a
247
3 7 a
257
-----------------------8

inv:(11118888)

inv:(10005655)

cycle:<336>

cycle:<345>

Page 2 of 2

A. Brinkman

Tetrachordal Subsets of the Octatonic Scale

Page 1 of 3

localhost:41> partition -s4 8-28

***
subject: 0134679a
= 8-28 {0134679a}

Row/Set-Class Partition Table

z0

m28

ic:[448444]

inv:(44440000)

***

cycle:<12121212>

partition size = 4
4-3 {0134} z0 m26 ic:[212100]
========================
0134679a
position
========================
0134
0123
01
9a
0167
3467
2345
679a
4567
-----------------------4
4-9 {0167} z0 m9 ic:[200022]
========================
0134679a
position
========================
01 67
0145
34 9a
2367
-----------------------2

inv:(11003322)

inv:(22226666)

cycle:<1218>

cycle:<1515>

4-10 {0235} z0 m10 ic:[122010]

========================
0134679a
position
========================
013
a
0127
0
79a
0567
1346
1234
4679
3456
-----------------------4

inv:(11113333)

cycle:<2127>

4-12 {0236} z0 m27 ic:[112101]

========================
0134679a
position
========================
013
9
0126
01 4
a
0137
0 346
0234
0
6 9a
0467
134 7
1235
1
79a
1567
3 679
2456
467 a
3457
-----------------------8

inv:(10002432)

cycle:<2136>

A. Brinkman

Tetrachordal Subsets of the Octatonic Scale

4-13 {0136} z0 m13 ic:[112011]

========================
0134679a
position
========================
013 6
0124
01
7 a
0157
0 3
9a
0267
0
679
0456
134
a
1237
1 467
1345
346 9
2346
4 79a
3567
-----------------------8
4-15 {0146} z29 m29 ic:[111111]
========================
0134679a
position
========================
01 46
0134
01
79
0156
0 34
a
0237
0
67 a
0457
13 67
1245
13
9a
1267
34 79
2356
46 9a
3467
-----------------------8

inv:(10012442)

inv:(10000331)

cycle:<1236>

cycle:<1326>

4-17 {0347} z0 m17 ic:[102210]

========================
0134679a
position
========================
01 4 9
0136
0 34 7
0235
1 6 9a
1467
3 67 a
2457
-----------------------4

inv:(11113333)

cycle:<3135>

4-18 {0147} z0 m18 ic:[102111]

========================
0134679a
position
========================
01 4 7
0135
01 6 9
0146

inv:(10012442)

cycle:<1335>

0 34 9
0236
0 3 67
0245
1 4 9a
1367
1 67 a
1457
34 7 a
2357
3 6 9a
2467
------------------------

Page 2 of 3

A. Brinkman

Tetrachordal Subsets of the Octatonic Scale

4-25 {0268} z0 m25 ic:[020202]

========================
0134679a
position
========================
0 46 a
0347
13 79
1256
-----------------------2
4-26 {0358} z0 m3 ic:[012120]
========================
0134679a
position
========================
0 3 7 a
0257
0 4 79
0356
13 6 a
1247
1 46 9
1346
-----------------------4

inv:(22226666)

inv:(11003322)

cycle:<2424>

cycle:<3234>

4-27 {0258} z0 m12 ic:[012111]

========================
0134679a
position
========================
0 3 6 a
0247
0 3 79
0256
0 46 9
0346
0 4 7 a
0357
13 6 9
1246
13 7 a
1257
1 46 a
1347
1 4 79
1356
-----------------------8

inv:(10002432)

cycle:<2334>

4-28 {0369} z0 m28 ic:[004002]

========================
0134679a
position
========================
0 3 6 9
0246
1 4 7 a
1357
-----------------------2

inv:(44448888)

cycle:<3333>

4-29 {0137} z15 m15 ic:[111111]

========================
0134679a
position
========================
013 7
0125
01 6 a
0147
0 467
0345
0 4 9a
0367
134 9
1236
1 679
1456
346 a
2347
3 79a
2567
-----------------------8

inv:(10000331)

cycle:<1245>

Page 3 of 3