Table of Pitch Class Sets

19/04/2014 19:16

The Table of Pitch Class Sets

copyright 1997, rev 2005 by Larry Solomon

About this table

Key to symbols

Note: to locate a prime form quickly, use your find (Ctrl-F) or search button and enter your
set-name, prime form, or descriptive name with no spaces, e.g., 6-34, 013579, or "mystic
chord".
#

Prime

Interval
Vector

Descriptive name/properties

0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11

Forte crossreferenced Setname

0-1
1-1*
2-1*
2-2*
2-3*
2-4*
2-5*
2-6*(6)
3-1*
3-2
3-2B
3-3

empty
0
01
02
03
04
05
06
012
013
023
014

000000
000000
100000
010000
001000
000100
000010
000001
210000
111000
111000
101100

Null set
Unison
Semitone
Whole-tone
Minor Third
Major Third
Perfect Fourth
Tritone
BACH /Chromatic Trimirror
Phrygian Trichord
Minor Trichord
Major-minor Trichord.1

12
13
14

3-3B
3-4
3-4B

034
015
045

101100
100110
100110

Major-minor Trichord.2
Incomplete Major-seventh Chord.1
Incomplete Major-seventh Chord.2

15
16

3-5
3-5B

016
056

100011
100011

Rite chord.2, Tritone-fourth.1

Rite chord.1, Tritone-fourth.2

17
18
19

3-6*
3-7
3-7B

024
025
035

020100
011010
011010

Whole-tone Trichord
Incomplete Minor-seventh Chord
Incomplete Dominant-seventh Chord.2

20

3-8

026

010101

21

3-8B

046

010101

Incomplete Dominant-seventh
Chord.1/Italian-sixth
Incomplete Half-dim-seventh Chord

22

3-9*

027

010020

Quartal Trichord

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Table of Pitch Class Sets

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23
24

3-10*
3-11

036
037

002001
001110

Diminished Chord
Minor Chord

25
26

3-11B
3-12*(4)

047
048

001110
000300

Major Chord
Augmented Chord

27
28
29

4-1*
4-2
4-2B

0123
0124
0234

321000
221100
221100

BACH /Chromatic Tetramirror

Major-second Tetracluster.2
Major-second Tetracluster.1

30
31

4-3*
4-4

0134
0125

212100
211110

Alternating Tetramirror
Minor Third Tetracluster.2

32
33

4-4B
4-5

0345
0126

211110
210111

Minor Third Tetracluster.1

Major Third Tetracluster.2

34
35
36

4-5B
4-6*
4-7*

0456
0127
0145

210111
210021
201210

Major Third Tetracluster.1

Perfect Fourth Tetramirror
Arabian Tetramirror

37
38
39
40

4-8*
4-9*(6)
4-10*
4-11

0156
0167
0235
0135

200121
200022
122010
121110

Double Fourth Tetramirror

Double Tritone Tetramirror
Minor Tetramirror
Phrygian Tetrachord

41
42
43
44

4-11B
4-12<
4-12B<
4-13

0245
0236
0346
0136

121110
112101
112101
112011

Major Tetrachord
Harmonic-minor Tetrachord
Major-third Diminished Tetrachord
Minor-second Diminished Tetrachord

45
46
47
48
49

4-13B
4-14<
4-14B<
4-Z15..29
4-Z15B..29

0356
0237
0457
0146
0256

112011
111120
111120
111111
111111

Perfect-fourth Diminished Tetrachord

Major-second Minor Tetrachord
Perfect-fourth Major Tetrachord
All-interval Tetrachord.1
All-interval Tetrachord.2

50
51
52
53
54

4-16
4-16B
4-17*
4-18
4-18B

0157
0267
0347
0147
0367

110121
110121
102210
102111
102111

Minor-second Quartal Tetrachord

Tritone Quartal Tetrachord
Major-minor Tetramirror
Major-diminished Tetrachord
Minor-diminished Tetrachord

55
56
57
58
59

4-19
4-19B
4-20*
4-21*
4-22

0148
0348
0158
0246
0247

101310
101310
101220
030201
021120

Minor-augmented Tetrachord
Augmented-major Tetrachord
Major-seventh Chord
Whole-tone Tetramirror
Major-second Major Tetrachord

60

4-22B

0357

021120

Perfect-fourth Minor Tetrachord

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Table of Pitch Class Sets

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61
62
63

4-23*
4-24*
4-25*(6)

0257
0248
0268

021030
020301
020202

Quartal Tetramirror
Augmented Seventh Chord
French-sixth Chord

64
65
66
67
68

4-26*
4-27
4-27B
4-28*(3)
4-Z29..15

0358
0258
0368
0369
0137

012120
012111
012111
004002
111111

Minor-seventh Chord
Half-diminished Seventh Chord
Dominant-seventh/German-sixth Chord
Diminished-seventh Chord
All-interval Tetrachord.3

69
70
71
72

4-Z29B..15
5-1*
5-2
5-2B

0467
01234
01235
02345

111111
432100
332110
332110

All-interval Tetrachord.4
Chromatic Pentamirror
Major-second Pentacluster.2
Major-second Pentacluster.1

73
74
75
76
77

5-3
5-3B
5-4
5-4B
5-5

01245
01345
01236
03456
01237

322210
322210
322111
322111
321121

Minor-second Major Pentachord

Spanish Pentacluster
Blues Pentacluster
Minor-third Pentacluster
Major-third Pentacluster.2

78
79

5-5B
5-6

04567
01256

321121
311221

80
81

5-6B
5-7

01456
01267

311221
310132

82
83

5-7B
5-8*

01567
02346

310132
232201

Major-third Pentacluster.1
Oriental Pentacluster.1, Raga
Megharanji (13161)
Oriental Pentacluster.2
DoublePentacluster.1, Raga Nabhomani
(11415)
Double Pentacluster.2
Tritone-Symmetric Pentamirror

84
85
86
87
88

5-9
5-9B
5-10
5-10B
5-11

01246
02456
01346
02356
02347

231211
231211
223111
223111
222220

Tritone-Expanding Pentachord
Tritone-Contracting Pentachord
Alternating Pentachord.1
Alternating Pentachord.2
Center-cluster Pentachord.1

89
90

5-11B
5-Z12*..36

03457
01356

222220
222121

Center-cluster Pentachord.2
Locrian Pentamirror

91
92

5-13
5-13B

01248
02348

221311
221311

Augmented Pentacluster.1
Augmented Pentacluster.2

93

5-14

01257

221131

Double-seconds Triple-fourth
Pentachord.1

94

5-14B

02567

221131

Double-seconds Triple-fourth
Pentachord.2

95

5-15*

01268

220222

Assymetric Pentamirror

http://solomonsmusic.net/pcsets.htm#Key

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Table of Pitch Class Sets

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96
97

5-16
5-16B

01347
03467

213211
213211

Major-minor-dim Pentachord.1
Major-minor-dim Pentachord.2

98
99

5-Z17*..37
5-Z18<..38

01348
01457

212320
212221

Minor-major Ninth Chord

Gypsy Pentachord.1

100

5-Z18B<..38

02367

212221

Gypsy Pentachord.2

101
102

5-19
5-19B

01367
01467

212122
212122

Javanese Pentachord
Balinese Pentachord

103

5-20

01378

211231

Balinese Pelog Pentatonic (12414),

Raga Bhupala, Raga Bibhas

104

5-20B

01578

211231

Hirajoshi Pentatonic (21414), Iwato

(14142), Sakura/Raga Saveri (14214)

105

5-21

01458

202420

Syrian Pentatonic/Major-augmented
Ninth Chord, Raga Megharanji (13134)

106

5-21B

03478

202420

Lebanese Pentachord/Augmentedminor Chord

107

5-22*

01478

202321

108

5-23

02357

132130

Persian Pentamirror, Raga reva/Ramkali

(13314)
Minor Pentachord

109
110

5-23B
5-24

02457
01357

132130
131221

Major Pentachord
Phrygian Pentachord

111

5-24B

02467

131221

Lydian Pentachord

112
113

5-25
5-23B

02358
03568

123121
123121

Diminished-major Ninth Chord

Minor-diminished Ninth Chord

114
115

5-26<
5-26B<

02458
03468

122311
122311

Diminished-augmented Ninth Chord

Augmented-diminished Ninth Chord

116

5-27

01358

122230

Major-Ninth Chord

117
118

5-27B
5-28<

03578
02368

122230
122212

Minor-Ninth Chord
Augmented-sixth Pentachord.1

119
120

5-28B<
5-29

02568
01368

122212
122131

Augmented-sixth Pentachord.2
Kumoi Pentachord.2

121

5-29B

02578

122131

Kumoi Pentachord.1

122
123

5-30
5-30B

01468
02478

121321
121321

124

5-31

01369

114112

Enigmatic Pentachord.1
Enigmatic Pentachord.2, Altered
Pentatonic (14223)
Diminished Minor-Ninth Chord

125
126

5-31B
5-32

02369
01469

114112
113221

Ranjaniraga/Flat-Ninth Pentachord
Neapolitan Pentachord.1

127

5-32B

01479

113221

Neapolitan Pentachord.2

128
129

5-33*
5-34*

02468
02469

040402
032221

Whole-tone Pentamirror
Dominant-ninth/major-

http://solomonsmusic.net/pcsets.htm#Key

Page 4 of 14

Table of Pitch Class Sets

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minor/Prometheus Pentamirror,
Dominant Pentatonic (22332)
130

5-35*

02479

032140

131

5-Z36..12

01247

222121

"Black Key"
Pentatonic/Slendro/Bilahariraga/Quartal
Pentamirror, Yo (23232)
Major-seventh Pentacluster.2

132
133

5-Z36B..12
5-Z37*..17

03567
03458

222121
212320

Minor-seventh Pentacluster.1
Center-cluster Pentamirror

134

5-Z38..18

01258

212221

Diminished Pentacluster.1

135
136

5-Z38B..18
6-1*

03678
012345

212221
543210

137

6-2

012346

443211

Diminished Pentacluster.2
Chromatic Hexamirror/1st ord. allcomb (P6, Ib, RI5)
comb I (b)

138

6-2B

023456

443211

comb I (1)

139
140

6-Z3..36B
6-Z3B..36

012356
013456

433221
433221

141
142

6-Z4*..37
6-5

012456
012367

432321
422232

comb RI (6)
comb I (b)

143

6-5B

014567

422232

comb I (3)

144
145

6-Z6*..38
6-7* (6)

012567
012678

421242
420243

Double-cluster Hexamirror
Messiaen's mode 5 (114114), 2nd
ord.all-comb(P3+9,I5,Ib,R6,RI2+8)

146

6-8*

023457

343230

1st ord.all-comb (P6, I1, RI7)

147

6-9

012357

342231

comb I (b)

148
149

6-9B
6-Z10..39

024567
013457

342231
333321

comb I (3)

150
151

6-Z10B..39B
6-Z11..40B

023467
012457

333321
333231

152

6-Z11B..40

023567

333231

153
154

6-Z12..41B
6-Z12B..41

012467
013567

332232
332232

155
156

6-Z13*..42
6-14..14

013467
013458

324222
323430

Alternating Hexamirror/comb RI7)

comb P (6)

157

6-14B..14B

034578

323430

comb P (6)

158
159

6-15
6-15B

012458
034678

323421
323421

comb I (b)
comb I (5)

160

6-16

014568

322431

comb I (3)

161
162

6-16B
6-Z17..43B

023478
012478

322431
322332

Megha or "Cloud" Raga/comb.I (1)

http://solomonsmusic.net/pcsets.htm#Key

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Table of Pitch Class Sets

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163
164

6-Z17B..43
6-18

014678
012578

322332
322242

comb I (b)

165

6-18B

013678

322242

comb I (5)

166
167

6-Z19..44B
6-Z19B..44

013478
014578

313431
313431

168

6-20*(4)

014589

303630

Augmented scale, Genus tertium, 3rd

ord. all-comb (P2+6+10, I3+7+b, R4+8,
RI1+5+9)

169

6-21

023468

242412

comb I (1)

170
171

6-21B
6-22

024568
012468

242412
241422

comb I (3)
comb I (b)

172
173

6-22B
6-Z23*..45

024678
023568

241422
234222

comb I (5)
Super-Locrian Hexamirror/comb RI (8)

174

6-Z24..46B

013468

233331

175
176

6-Z24B..46
6-Z25..47B

024578
013568

233331
233241

Melodic-minor Hexachord
Locrian Hexachord/Suddha Saveriraga

177
178

6-Z25B..47
6-Z26*..48

023578
013578

233241
232341

Minor Hexachord
Phrygian Hexamirror/comb RI (8)

179

6-27

013469

225222

comb I (b)

180
181

6-27B
6-Z28*..49

023569
013569

225222
224322

182

6-Z29*..50

013689

224232

Pyramid Hexachord/comb I (1)

Double-Phrygian Hexachord/comb RI
(6)
comb RI (9)

183

6-30 (6)

013679

224223

184

6-30B (6)

023689

224223

185
186

6-31
6-31B

013589
014689

223431
223431

187

6-32*

024579

143250

188
189

6-33
6-33B

023579
024679

143241
143241

190

6-34

013579

142422

191

6-34B

024689

142422

192

6-35*(2)

02468A

060603

http://solomonsmusic.net/pcsets.htm#Key

Minor-bitonal Hexachord/comb R (6), I

(5,b)
Petrushka chord, Major-bitonal
Hexachord, comb R (6), I (1,7)
comb I (7)
comb I (b)
Arezzo major Diatonic (221223), major
hexamirror, quartal hexamirror, 1st
ord.all-comb P (6), I (3), RI (9)
Dorian Hexachord/comb I (1)
Dominant-11th/Lydian
Hexachord/comb I (5)
Scriabin's Mystic Chord or Prometheus
Hexachord/comb I (B)
Harmonic Hexachord/Augmented11th/comb I (7)
Wholetone scale/6th ord.all-comb.
Page 6 of 14

Table of Pitch Class Sets

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(P+IoddT, R+RIevenT)
193

6-Z36..3B

012347

433221

194
195
196
197

6-Z36B..3
6-Z37*..4
6-Z38*..6
6-Z39..10

034567
012348
012378
023458

433221
432321
421242
333321

198
199
200

6-Z39B..10B
6-Z40..11B
6-Z40B..11

034568
012358
035678

333321
333231
333231

201
202
203

6-Z41..12B
6-Z41B..12
6-Z42*..13

012368
025678
012369

332232
332232
324222

comb RI (3)

204
205
206
207

6-Z43..17B
6-Z43B..17
6-Z44..19B
6-Z44B..19

012568
023678
012569
012589

322332
322332
313431
313431

Schoenberg Anagram Hexachord

Bauli raga (133131)

208
209
210

6-Z45*..23
6-Z46..24B
6-Z46B..24

023469
012469
024569

234222
233331
233331

211
212
213

6-Z47..25B
6-Z47B..25
6-Z48*..26

012479
023479
012579

233241
233241
232341

214

6-Z49*..28

013479

224322

Prometheus Neapolitan mode (132312),

comb RI (4)

215
216
217

6-Z50*..29
7-1*
7-2

014679
0123456
0123457

224232
654321
554331

comb RI (1)
Chromatic Heptamirror

218
219
220
221

7-2B
7-3
7-3B
7-4

0234567
0123458
0345678
0123467

554331
544431
544431
544332

222
223
224

7-4B
7-5
7-5B

0134567
0123567
0124567

544332
543342
543342

225
226
227

7-6
7-6B
7-7

0123478
0145678
0123678

533442
533442
532353

228

7-7B

0125678

532353

http://solomonsmusic.net/pcsets.htm#Key

comb RI (4)
comb RI (3)

comb RI (6)

Blues mode.1 (321132)

comb RI (2)

Page 7 of 14

Table of Pitch Class Sets

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229
230

7-8*
7-9

0234568
0123468

454422
453432

231
232
233
234

7-9B
7-10
7-10B
7-11

0245678
0123469
0234569
0134568

453432
445332
445332
444441

235
236
237

7-11B
7-Z12*..36
7-13

0234578
0123479
0124568

444441
444342
443532

238
239
240

7-13B
7-14
7-14B

0234678
0123578
0135678

443532
443352
443352

241
242
243
244

7-15*
7-16
7-16B
7-Z17*..37

0124678
0123569
0134569
0124569

442443
435432
435432
434541

245
246
247

7-Z18<..38
7-Z18B<..38
7-19

0123589
0146789
0123679

434442
434442
434343

248
249
250

7-19B
7-20
7-20B

0123689
0124789
0125789

434343
433452
433452

251
252

7-21
7-21B

0124589
0134589

424641
424641

253

7-22*

0125689

424542

254
255

7-23
7-23B

0234579
0245679

354351
354351

256
257
258

7-24
7-24B
7-25

0123579
0246789
0234679

353442
353442
345342

259
260
261

7-25B
7-26<
7-26B<

0235679
0134579
0245689

345342
344532
344532

262

7-27

0124579

344451

http://solomonsmusic.net/pcsets.htm#Key

Chromatic Phrygian inverse (1123113)

Pantuvarali Raga (1321131), Chromatic
Mixolydian (1131132), Chromatic
Dorian/Mela Kanakangi (1132113)
Gypsy hexatonic (1312113)
Persian, Major Gypsy, Hungarian
Minor, Double Harmonic scale, Bhairav
That, Mayamdavagaula Raga (all:
1312131), Oriental (1311312)
Tritone Major Heptachord
Enigmatic Heptatonic (1322211)

Page 8 of 14

Table of Pitch Class Sets

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263
264

7-27B
7-28<

0245789
0135679

344451
344433

265
266
267

7-28B<
7-29
7-29B

0234689
0124679
0235789

344433
344352
344352

268

7-30

0124689

343542

269
270

7-30B
7-31

0135789
0134679

343542
336333

271
272

7-31B
7-32

0235689
0134689

336333
335442

273

7-32B

0135689

335442

274

7-33*

012468A

262623

275

7-34*

013468A

254442

276

7-35*

013568A

254361

277
278

7-Z36..12
7-Z36B..12

0123568
0235678

444342
444342

279
280
281
282

7-Z37*..17
7-Z38..18
7-Z38B..18
8-1*

0134578
0124578
0134678
01234567

434541
434442
434442
765442

283
284
285

8-2
8-2B
8-3*

01234568
02345678
01234569

665542
665542
656542

286
287
288

8-4
8-4B
8-5

01234578
01345678
01234678

655552
655552
654553

289
290
291

8-5B
8-6*
8-7*

01245678
01235678
01234589

654553
654463
645652

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Modified Blues mode (2121132)

Neapolitan-Minor mode (1222131),

Mela Dhenuka
Alternating Heptachord.1/Hungarian
Major mode (3121212)
Alternating Heptachord.2
Harmonic-Minor mode (2122131),
Spanish Gypsy, Mela Kiravani, Pilu
That
Dharmavati Scale (2131221), Harmonic
minor inverse (1312212), Mela
Cakravana, Raga Ahir Bhairav
Neapolitan-major mode
(1222221)/Leading-Whole-tone mode
(222211)
Harmonic/Super-Locrian, Melodic
minor ascending (1212222)/Aug.13th
Heptamirror, Jazz Minor
Major Diatonic Heptachord/Dominant13th, Locrian (1221222), Phrygian
(1222122), Major inverse

Chromatic Octamirror

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292
293

8-8*
8-9* (6)

01234789
01236789

644563
644464

294
295
296

8-10*
8-11
8-11B

02345679
01234579
02456789

566452
565552
565552

297
298
299
300

8-12<
8-12B<
8-13
8-13B

01345679
02345689
01234679
02356789

556543
556543
556453
556453

301
302
303

8-14<
8-14B<
8-Z15..29

01245679
02345789
01234689

555562
555562
555553

304
305
306

8-Z15B..29
8-16
8-16B

01356789
01235789
01246789

555553
554563
554563

307
308
309
310

8-17*
8-18
8-18B
8-19

01345689
01235689
01346789
01245689

546652
546553
546553
545752

311
312
313

8-19B
8-20*
8-21*

01345789
01245789
0123468A

545752
545662
474643

314
315

8-22
8-22B

0123568A
0123579A

465562
465562

316
317

8-23*
8-24*

0123578A
0124568A

465472
464743

318
319

8-25* (6)
8-26*

0124678A
0124579A

464644
456562

320
321

8-27
8-27B

0124578A
0124679A

456553
456553

322

8-28* (3)

0134679A

448444

323
324
325
326

8-Z29..15
8-Z29B..15
9-1*
9-2

01235679
02346789
012345678
012345679

555553
555553
876663
777663

327

9-2B

023456789

777663

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Messiaen's mode 4 (11131113)

Spanish Octatonic Scale (r9)

(12111222)
Quartal Octachord, Diatonic Octad
Messiaen mode 6 (11221122)
Spanish Phrygian (r9) (12112122)/
Blues mode.2 (21211212)

Alternating Octatonic or Diminished

scale (12121212)

Chromatic Nonamirror

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328
329

9-3
9-3B

012345689
013456789

767763
767763

330
331
332

9-4
9-4B
9-5

012345789
012456789
012346789

766773
766773
766674

333
334
335

9-5B
9-6*
9-7

012356789
01234568A
01234578A

766674
686763
677673

Nonatonic Blues Scale (211111212)

336
337
338
339

9-7B
9-8
9-8B
9-9*

01234579A
01234678A
01234689A
01235678A

677673
676764
676764
676683

Raga Ramdasi Malhar (r2) (211122111)

340
341
342

9-10*
9-11
9-11B

01234679A
01235679A
01235689A

668664
667773
667773

Diminishing Nonachord

343

9-12* (4)

01245689A

666963

Tsjerepnin/Messiaen mode 3
(112112112)

344
345
346

10-1*
10-2*
10-3*

0123456789
012345678A
012345679A

988884
898884
889884

Chromatic Decamirror

347
348
349
350

10-4*
10-5*
10-6* (6)
11-1*

012345689A
012345789A
012346789A
0123456789A

888984
888894
888885
AAAAA5

351

12-1*(1)

0123456789AB

CCCCC6

Major-minor mixed (r7)

Messiaen mode 7 (1111211112)
Chromatic Undecamirror
Chromatic Scale/Dodecamirror
(111111111111)

About This Table

These Prime Forms reinstate the inverses of Forte's primes. They occur in the table with "B"
suffixed to set-name.
Note that Allen Forte's "prime forms" are questionable as overly-reduced sets. As an example, 047, the
major chord, does not appear in Forte's table, but is subsumed into 037, the minor chord. Thus, it becomes
impossible to distinguish major from minor. This problem extends to all distinct pairs of set inverses. The
dominant-seventh (0368), as another example, is subsumed into the half-diminished seventh (0258),
making them indistinguishable. The above table retains all the original Forte set-names, but reinstates
each inverse as the "B" form that is suffixed to the Forte name. Thus, these new primes are kept separate
from their inverses. In no way does this subtract from the basic tenets of set theory, nor does it change
Forte's foundational sets. Instead, it only adds more information -- information that was deleted by
subsuming inverse sets under the same name. It also has the additional benefit of simplifying the
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determination of the prime form by elimination of the step that includes the inverse.
It is maintained by some theorists that the reduction in the Forte primes is valid because of the "atonal"
context for which set theory was designed; i.e., major and minor chords are the same in an "atonal"
context. But, the term "atonal" is itself a questionable, and perhaps undefinable term, as is what constitutes
"atonal music". Aside from the problem of defining "atonality," there are additional problems with this
categorical excuse. Forte himself uses set theory to analyze Stravinsky's Rite of Spring and other at least
marginally tonal music, such as in Scriabin's work. Major and minor chords are found in the Rite, and they
are rendered indistinguishable by Forteian analysis. It is simply incorrect that these chords are heard as the
same sonority in the Rite or in the music of Scriabin. This problem may even be exacerbated in the early
"atonal" work of Schoenberg. Thus, all "set analysis" that unquestioningly follows Forte's model must
itself be questioned.
The above table salvages the problem by reinstating the inverse forms. The only other changes to Forte's
original list (SAM, Appendix I) are additional symbols that enhance the informational content of the table.
For example, the asterisk * identifies the set as a mirror, thus one that has no distinct inverse.
Complements can still be identified (see the Key).
Additions in this table, supplying even more information, are the descriptive or common names. Thus,
when a set has a common name, such as dominant-seventh, it can easily be identified as such (as well as
enharmonic equivalents). Scale names are also included when applicable. Some new "descriptive names"
have been added that help to identify distinctive properties of a set. An example is 0347, the well-known
superposed major-minor chord. It is tagged as the "major-minor tetramirror", which itself contains
information about the nature of the chord: (1) that it is a 4-note chord (hence tetrachord), (2) that it is a
mirror (symmetrical and having no distinct inverse), and (3) that it contains the major and minor chords.
More information is provided with hexachords, where the symbol "comb" may be encountered. This is an
abbreviation for "combinatorial". The structure of a hexachord determines whether it can form a
combinatorial 12-note set with its complement. Note that the order of the notes within each hexachord has
no effect on the property of hexachordal combinatoriality. Thus, its combinatoriality can be identified (see
the Key).
A new asset of this table is the exclusive use of single digit numbers for the prime form and the interval
vector. This eliminates the need for commas, spaces, or other separators, resulting in a more elegant
expression for each set. Hexadecimal notation is used. Thus, "10" is rendered as "A", "11" is rendered as
"B", and "12" is C, rarely used in the last group of sets. It is worth the change because it makes it possible
to express a set as a single line of numbers without separators; e.g., 02468A, the whole-tone scale. Other
systems have been proposed, such as T for "10" and "E" for eleven, but these are Anglo-centric.

Key
symbol
*
<

meaning
The set is a mirror (see Glossary).
The set has a complement with the same name ending1

(4)

(1) The set has only 4 different unique transpositions, as opposed to the normal 12. (2) when
occurring after "comb", indicates the transposition of comb when the set is in prime form.

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Table of Pitch Class Sets

B
..15
comb
comb RI
all-comb
AAAA5

19/04/2014 19:16

(at the end of a set-name) The set is the inverse of the set without the B and has the same IV.
This is a Z set whose counterpart (having the same IV) is ordinal number 15 of the same
cardinality. For hexachords this number also designates the set complement.
This is a hexachord that is combinatorial.
This hexachord is combinatorial with RI (the number in parentheses indicates the
transposition of comb form when set is prime form)
The set is known as an all-combinatorial set (see Glossary).
The last two sets in the table have their IVs designated in hexadecimal; A=10, B=11, C=12

1. Normally, sets with B names have complements without the B ending and vice versa. 8-12<, however, has the
complement 4-12, and 8-12B has the complement 4-12B.

Selected Bibliography
Forte, Allen. The Structure of Atonal Music. New Haven: Yale, 1973
Rahn, John. Basic Atonal Theory. New York: Longman, 1980. Contains an extensive bibliography up to
about 1978.
Solomon, Larry. "The List of Chords, Their Properties, and Uses", Interface, Journal of New Music
Research, Vol. 11 (1982)
Strauss, Joseph N. Post-Tonal Theory, Prentice-Hall, 1990.
It should be noted that a number of authors have contributed to the development of the theory of set
complexes for music. For comprehensive bibliographies see:
Rahn, John. Basic Atonal Theory. New York: Longman, 1980. Contains an extensive bibliography up to
about 1978.
In Theory Only, V.3/7-11 (1977-78), Index of Music Theory in the United States 1955-1970, R. Browne,
ed. This is an excellent source of bibliography on set theory, as well as all other aspects of music theory,
from 1955-1970.
Richard Chrisman's bibliography in the Journal of Music Theory, V.21/1 (1977), pp.26-28.

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