Put simply, a mode of limited transposition is a special kind of twelve-note scale in which

there are fewer than twelve unique transpositions of the scale. This occurs only with special
scales. For example a Major scale is not a mode of limited transposition ecause it can e
transposed eleven more times to ! Major, ! Major, and so on. " whole tone scale is a limited
mode of transposition since it has only two unique transpositions #the startin$ note of the scale
does not matter here%.
" little ack$round information on the distriution of these scales&
There are ',()* #' to the ++th power% possile pitch collections which e$in on the note
,.
There are thirty-seven modes of limited transposition which can only e transposed
twice, three times, four times, or six times. The chromatic scale can not e transposed and
the remainin$ ',(+( pitch collections are transposale twelve times.
The modes of limited transposition account for +.*- of all possile pitch collections.
The whole-tone scale is the only mode that is twice-transposale.
There are three modes which are thrice-transposale.
There are six modes that are four-times transposale.
There are twenty-seven modes that are six-times transposale.
For any mode that is transposale three, four, or six times, a second unique mode can
e derived y takin$ the mode.s inverse #remove the existin$ notes and add the asent
notes%.
/n the thirty seven modes, there are only three modes which do not contain the tri-tone
interval, and only four which do not have a tri-tone aove the root of the mode #F in our
case% all of which are in the modes of four transpositions.
/n the modes of three transpositions, every note is part of a diminished seventh chord.
/n the modes of four transpositions, every note is part of an au$mented fifth chord.
/n the modes of six tranposition, every note is paired with another note a tri-tone away.
The followin$ is an enumeration of the limited modes of transposition with , as the
e$innin$ note and usin$ sharps for accidentals&
Two Transpositions
Scale Intervallic Significance
1. C D E F G A Whole tone scale
Three Transpositions
Scale Intervallic Significance
1. C D F A Diminished seventh chord
2. C C D E F G A A Octatonic scale m2, M2, . . .
3. C D D F F G A B Octatonic scale, reverse order M2, m2, . . .
Four Transpositions
Scale Intervallic Significance
1. C E G Aumented !i!th chord
2. C C E F G A
"e#tonic m2, m3, . . . or t$o aumented !i!th chords m2
a%art
3. C C D E F F G A A &nverse o! aumented !i!th chord
'. C D E G G B
"e#tonic m3, m2, . . . or t$o aumented !i!th chords m3
a%art
(. C C D E F G G A B &nverse o! aumented !i!th chord
). C D D E F G G A B &nverse o! aumented !i!th chord
Six Transpositions
Scale Intervallic Significance
1. C F *ri+tone
2. C C F G *$o tri+tones m2 a%art
3. C D F G *$o tri+tones M2 a%art
'. C C D F G G *hree tri+tones stac,ed m2 a%art
(. C C D F G A *hree tri+tones stac,ed m2, then M2 a%art
). C D D F G A *hree tri+tones stac,ed M2, then m2 a%art
-. C C D D F G G A Four tri+tones stac,ed m2 a%art
.. C E F A *$o tri+tones M3 a%art
/. C C E F G A *hree tri+tones stac,ed m2, then m3 a%art
10. C C D E F G G A Four tri+tones stac,ed m2, m2, then M2 a%art
11. C D E F A A *hree tri+tones stac,ed m3, then m2 a%art
12. C D D E F G A A Four tri+tones stac,ed M2, m2, then m2 a%art
13. C D F F G B *hree tri+tones stac,ed M2, then m3 a%art
1'. C C D D E F G G A A
Five tri+tones stac,ed m2 a%art or tri+tone inverse
1(. C F F B *$o tri+tones 1' a%art
1). C C F F G B *hree tri+tones stac,ed m2, then M3 a%art
1-. C C D F F G G B Four tri+tones stac,ed m2, m2, then m3 a%art
1.. C D F F A B *hree tri+tones stac,ed m3, then M2 a%art
1/. C C D F F G A B Four tri+tones stac,ed m2, M2, then m3 a%art
20. C C D D F F G G A B *ri+tone inverse
21. C E F F A B *hree tri+tones stac,ed M3, the m2 a%art
22. C C E F F G A B Four tri+tones stac,ed m2, m3, then m2 a%art
23. C D E F F G A B Four tri+tones stac,ed M2, M2, then m2 a%art
2'. C C D E F F G G A B *ri+tone inverse
2(. C D E F F A A B Four tri+tones stac,ed m3, m2, then m2 a%art
2). C C D E F F G A A B *ri+tone inverse
2-. C D D E F F G A A B *ri+tone inverse