Microtonal Tuning SystemsOriginal Tuning Dataset & Analysis — H. Naito

m17EDO-2306

Modified 17-EDO tuning system (June 2023 revision). Three steps are replaced with just-intonation-derived or equal-temperament intervals: step 9 uses 11/8 (551.3¢), step 10 uses the tritone at 600.0¢, and step 12 uses 8/5 (813.6¢). First used in Prelude X (2023) for piano tuned to a unique 17-tone temperament.

Step Cents Ratio 17-EDO ref Deviation Note
1 0.0 1/1 0.0 0.0 unison
2 70.6 70.6 0.0
3 141.2 141.2 0.0
4 211.8 211.8 0.0
5 282.4 282.4 0.0
6 352.9 352.9 0.0
7 423.5 423.5 0.0
8 494.1 494.1 0.0
9 551.3 11/8 564.7 −13.4 * MODIFIED
10 600.0 635.3 −35.3 * MODIFIED
11 705.9 705.9 0.0
12 813.6 8/5 776.5 +37.1 * MODIFIED
13 847.1 847.1 0.0
14 917.6 917.6 0.0
15 988.2 988.2 0.0
16 1058.8 1058.8 0.0
17 1129.4 1129.4 0.0
1 1200.0 2/1 1200.0 0.0 octave
* Modified steps deviate from standard 17-EDO (1200/17 ≈ 70.588¢ per step). Ratio column shows just-intonation source where applicable.

m17EDO-2311

Modified 17-EDO tuning system (November 2023 revision). Five steps are modified from standard 17-EDO: steps 6, 9, 10, 12, and 16. First used in Lunar Fantasia (2023) for microtonal piano.

Step Cents 17-EDO ref Deviation Note
1 0.0 0.0 0.0 unison
2 70.6 70.6 0.0
3 141.2 141.2 0.0
4 211.8 211.8 0.0
5 282.4 282.4 0.0
6 377.0 352.9 +24.1 * MODIFIED
7 423.5 423.5 0.0
8 494.1 494.1 0.0
9 536.9 564.7 −27.8 * MODIFIED
10 603.0 635.3 −32.3 * MODIFIED
11 705.9 705.9 0.0
12 813.6 776.5 +37.1 * MODIFIED
13 847.1 847.1 0.0
14 917.6 917.6 0.0
15 988.2 988.2 0.0
16 1088.2 1058.8 +29.4 * MODIFIED
17 1129.4 1129.4 0.0
1 1200.0 1200.0 0.0 octave
* 5 modified steps. Compared to m17EDO-2306, step 6 and step 16 are additionally modified; step 9 uses a different value (536.9¢ vs 551.3¢); step 10 differs slightly (603.0¢ vs 600.0¢).

m17EDO-2306 vs m17EDO-2311

Circular pitch-space visualization. Grey ticks = standard 17-EDO positions. Red = m17EDO-2306, blue = m17EDO-2311. Open circles with cent labels = modified steps. 0¢ (unison) at 12 o'clock; pitch ascends clockwise.

Side-by-side comparison of the two modified 17-EDO variants. Differences are highlighted in the table below.

Step 2306 (cents) 2311 (cents) Diff (2311−2306)
10.00.00.0
270.670.60.0
3141.2141.20.0
4211.8211.80.0
5282.4282.40.0
6352.9377.0+24.1
7423.5423.50.0
8494.1494.10.0
9551.3536.9−14.4
10600.0603.0+3.0
11705.9705.90.0
12813.6813.60.0
13847.1847.10.0
14917.6917.60.0
15988.2988.20.0
161058.81088.2+29.4
171129.41129.40.0
11200.01200.00.0
Steps 6, 9, 10, 16 differ between the two systems. Step 12 (813.6¢) is identically modified in both.

Piano Opera — 51-Note Tuning

Piano Opera in 4 Acts — The Asteroidal Sequence of Metaphysical Ulysses (2024–2025). Three microtonal pianos tuned to a unique system of 17 notes each, yielding 51 notes per octave. Piano 1 is the Prelude X tuning (= m17EDO-2306). Base pitch: 312 Hz (octave at 624 Hz).

# Cents Piano Step
10.0P1
212.5P312.5
350.0P237.5
470.6P120.6
583.1P312.5
6120.6P237.5
7141.2P120.6
8153.7P312.5
9191.2P237.5
10211.8P120.6
11224.3P312.5
12261.8P237.5
13282.4P120.6
14294.9P312.5
15332.4P237.5
16352.9P120.5
17386.5P333.6
18403.0P216.5
19423.5P120.5
20436.0P312.5
21473.6P237.6
22494.1P120.5
23506.6P312.5
24544.1P237.5
25547.5P33.4
26551.3P13.8
# Cents Piano Step
27600.0P148.7
28612.5P312.5
29614.7P22.2
30674.5P359.8
31685.3P210.8
32705.9P120.6
33743.0P337.1
34755.9P212.9
35813.6P157.7
36826.5P212.9
37847.1P120.6
38870.5P323.4
39897.1P226.6
40917.6P120.5
41920.5P32.9
42967.7P247.2
43988.2P120.5
44999.0P310.8
451033.5P334.5
461038.3P24.8
471058.8P120.5
481108.9P250.1
491129.4P120.5
501142.9P313.5
511179.5P236.6
11200.0P120.5
P1 = Piano 1 (Prelude X / m17EDO-2306, 1/1 = 312 Hz)  ·  P2 = Piano 2  ·  P3 = Piano 3
Step size = interval from previous note in cents. Minimum step: 2.2¢ (#28→#29). Maximum step: 59.8¢ (#29→#30).

Analysis

m17EDO-2306 Summary
Notes per octave 17
Modified steps 3 (9, 10, 12)
Unmodified steps 14
JI ratios 11/8, 8/5
Max deviation +37.1¢
First work Prelude X (2023)
m17EDO-2311 Summary
Notes per octave 17
Modified steps 5 (6, 9, 10, 12, 16)
Unmodified steps 12
Max deviation +37.1¢
vs 2306 additions Steps 6, 16
First work Lunar Fantasia (2023)
Piano Opera 51-Note Summary
Total notes 51 / octave
Pianos 3 (17 each)
Base pitch (P1) 312Hz
P1 tuning m17EDO-2306
Avg step 23.5¢
Min / Max step 2.2 / 59.8¢
Composition 2024–2025
Listen Act 1

Scala Files

All three tuning systems as Scala (.scl) files for import into Pianoteq, Surge, and other microtonal-capable synthesizers.

⚠ Implementation Note

piano-opera-51note.scl is provided for reference and analysis purposes. In practice, the Piano Opera tuning should be implemented as 3 separate instances of a 17-tone piano (each using its own modified 17-EDO tuning), not as a single 51-note scale loaded into one instrument. Loading all 51 notes into a single Pianoteq instance will produce a keyboard mapping that does not reflect the intended 3-piano layout of the composition.

Piano Opera 51-Note Tuning loaded in Pianoteq 9 — circular pitch visualization
Piano Opera 51-Note Tuning (.scl) loaded in Pianoteq 9 — Shigeru Kawai SK-EX Ryuyo. All 51 pitches mapped onto a single keyboard. For actual performance, use 3 separate piano instances.
Scala format (.scl) — compatible with Pianoteq, Surge, ZynAddSubFX, Scala, and other microtonal software.
Identifier
Suggested Citation
Naito, H. (2026). Microtonal Tuning Systems: m17EDO-2306, m17EDO-2311, and Piano Opera 51-Note Tuning Dataset. UTIE Research Institute. https://utie-instruments.com/tuning-dataset.html