Tonality systems

Dorico Pro Help

Product
Dorico Pro
Version
4.3
Language
English
Document type
Webhelp
ft:openMode
fluidtopics

The term “tonality system” is used in Dorico Pro to encompass three crucial elements that together make up the concept of tonality.

The three elements that make up tonality systems are:

  • A number of equal divisions of the octave, or EDO. For example, standard Western scales with half-step (semitone) steps have 12-EDO.

  • A set of accidentals. This allows you to notate how much a note is raised or lowered. This can be a traditional or a custom set of accidentals, either selected from the wide variety available or of your own design.

  • A key signature. This can be a traditional Western key signature, or a custom key signature of your own design.

Dorico Pro provides the following tonality systems in each project by default:

  • Equal temperament (12-EDO): Contains twelve half-step (semitone) steps

  • Equal temperament (24-EDO, Gould arrows): Contains 24 quarter tone steps and uses Gould arrow quarter tone accidentals

  • Equal temperament (24-EDO, Stein-Zimmermann): Contains 24 quarter tone steps and uses Stein-Zimmermann quarter tone accidentals

You can find existing tonality systems in your project in the Tonality System section of the Key Signatures, Tonality Systems, and Accidentals panel.