Number of pitches used in melodies

Bob Lee said:
> Mr. Gibson, you've obviously given a lot of thought to these issues, so I
> think I must not be understanding what you're saying here. Consider this:
>
> Much of the popular American music from the first half of this century is
> based on "Dixieland" chord changes. The 7 notes of the diatonic major scale
> are used, of course, but the progressions often include a circle of fifths
> starting on the third note of the scale. In C this is E7 - A7 - D7 - G7.
> This addition of G#, C# and F# brings the total number of notes used to 10
> per octave. The Fm is also used frequently, adding an Ab to the mix for a
> total of 11.
>
When I refer to the number of pitches that may be remembered in a given
melody, I do not mean to question musicians' ability to modulate. It is
not uncommon to find all 12 tones used in a single piece. But such
pieces do not consist of a single melody. Again, a melody may use more
than 9 pitches, but the more are used within a single melody beyond 9
or so (obviously there is nothing sacred about any particular number)
the larger a percentage of the audience will remember the melody in a
simplified form, and the fewer will remember - or like - the melody.

The use of about 7 tones in the octave for most Western melody may
therefore be much more than purely a matter of tradition.

There is also the matter of ornamental or incidental pitches to
consider. The Indians normally use 7-tone modes, I believe, but many
more secondary or improvised tones.


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From: mr88cet@texas.net (Gary Morrison)
Subject: Re: Liminatory Fulminations
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