Aditonic scale is a musicalscale ormode with twonotes peroctave. This is in contrast to aheptatonic (seven-note) scale such as themajor scale andminor scale, or adodecatonic (chromatic 12-note ) scale, both common in modern Western music. EthnomusicologistBruno Nettl noted that ditonic scales were common in many parts of the world but often limited to specific music types, such aschildren's songs, with the exception of some tribal societies.[2]
The Cheremis (Mari people) of Russia employ ditonic scales in children's songs, generally with the two notes aminor third apart. Nettl theorised that these ditonic songs may be a remnant of a more archaic form of music.[2]
TheShipibo people of Amazonian Peru used ditonic scales in approximately 2.5% of their music. The ditonic was found "almost exclusively in the complex ostinato songs."[3]
Theca dao folk poetry of Vietnam is sometimes sung in ditonic scales.[4]
Several ditonic scales were noted about theModoc andKlamath tribes of the North American West Coast, and are also found in theGreat Plains in the rituals of the 1800sGhost Dance religion.[5] The scale was also used in the music of theShawnee.[6]
The ditonic scale type is recognised in Indian music, and termed theDvisvara ("two tone"), but ditonic scales are not recognised asraga scales.[7]
The ditonic is among the scale types employed in traditionalNigerian music.[8]
In a study carried out in 1969,Mervyn McLean noted that among the Maori tribes he surveyed, ditonic scales comprised 17% of the scales used.[9]