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The Geometry of Music

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A research team at Princeton University "has outlined a method called "geometrical music theory" that translates the language of musical theory into that of contemporary geometry. They take sequences of notes, like chords, rhythms and scales, and categorize them so they can be grouped into "families." They have found a way to assign mathematical structure to these families, so they can then be represented by points in complex geometrical spaces, much the way "x" and "y" coordinates, in the simpler system of high school algebra, correspond to points on a two-dimensional plane.

Different types of categorization produce different geometrical spaces, and reflect the different ways in which musicians over the centuries have understood music. This achievement, they expect, will allow researchers to analyze and understand music in much deeper and more satisfying ways."

"The method could help answer whether there are new scales and chords that exist but have yet to be discovered."

"Our methods [...] might allow you to visualize some of the differences between John Lennon and Paul McCartney. And they certainly help you understand more deeply how classical music relates to rock or is different from atonal music."


Princeton University (2008, April 18). Music Has Its Own Geometry, Researchers Find. ScienceDaily. Retrieved April 29, 2008, from http://www.sciencedaily.com­/releases/2008/04/080417142454.htm

(via http://en.towerofbabel.com/blog/)
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2 responses // The Geometry of Music

  • it sounds like a liberating experience. as a musician and a performer i can only express excitement at the possibilities .
    noonesoldier
  • I remember reading about a guy who claimed some of Claude Debussy’s works actually adhered to the Fibonacci sequence. Maybe they should give “Prelude to the afternoon of a Faun” a try and see what comes up.
    Ricky84

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