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Pitch-class set

A selection of the twelve pitch classes, independent of octave and order. It says which pitches are present without choosing a chord root or voicing.

One set, several readings

Explore a set without octaves

Start with C, E, and G. Click a dot on the clock or a bit below it to change the set. The binary, number, letter, and decimal forms update together. Choosing MIDI notes, an inversion, or a root is a separate step.

Binary

100010010000

Numbers

0-4-7

Letters

C-E-G

Decimal

2192
Explore the interactive binary notation
CC♯DD♯EFF♯GG♯AA♯B3

Written forms

Ways to write this set

Each notation describes the same underlying object. Open an example to see it in every other notation, or load it to hear one MIDI realization in the Code Sequencer.

binary

Open guide

12-bit binary showing present pitch classes

binary num

Open guide

numeric counterpart of the 12-bit binary showing present pitch classes

numbers

Open guide

Comma-separated pitch class numbers

chord name

Open guide

Traditional chord naming, when applicable

scale name

Open guide

Traditional scale naming, when applicable

Choose Load beside a convertible example to open its live player. Some catalog formats describe analysis or a display label and have no note realization yet.

Concept connections

Pitch classOne of the twelve pitches from C to B, independent of octave. Transposition rotates its position around the chromatic circle.Point SetA rootless arrangement of semitone offsets from the lowest note. Its shape stays the same when a MIDI voicing is transposed.Note setA group of concrete MIDI pitches with octaves. It specifies one voicing and can be reduced to pitch classes or a rootless point shape.Pitch-class spaceA twelve-bin distribution of pitch-class weights. It combines matching pitches across octaves while retaining their counts.Note SpaceA 128-bin distribution over MIDI notes. Counts or weights retain register and repeated occurrences.
Sources and playback

Concept descriptions and examples were adapted from Maru Mono’s typed catalog and concept examples. The Code Sequencer plays MIDI through a connected instrument; Symbolic does not synthesize sound.