Introduction

to Pitch-Class Set Theory

Pitch-class set is a collection of pitch classes. They are unordered, that is, the pcs may be
embodied in any order in the musical segments. We will learn to write the pitch-class
set in its normal form and prime form (set class).

I. Normal Form (or Normal Order):

It is the unordered pitch-class set in the ascending and most compact ordering.

To find normal form:

(1) Put the pitch classes in its ascending order within an octave.

1,4,5,7 4,5,7,1 5,7,1,4 7,1,4,5

(2) Compare and find the most compact ordering. The result of the example above is
1,4,5,7. Therefore the pc set in its normal order is [1,4,5,7].

(3) Note that the normal form uses a square bracket and separates the individual pcs
with a comma.


II. Prime Form: (or Prime Order, also called the Set Class)

It is the set class (always starting with zero) that represents the 12 transpositions and
12 inversions that share the same interval contents.


To find prime form:

(1) Start with pitch-class set in its normal order. We’ll use [1,4,5,7] from above as an
example.

(2) Transpose it to start with zero. It becomes [0,3,4,6].

(3) Invert this set and you get [0,2,3,6].

(4) Choose the one that is more compact to the left (smaller interval on the left) to be
the prime form. In this case, it is (0236).

(5) Prime form always starts with zero, and uses a parenthesis with no comma in
between numbers.



III. Exercise: Please put the following into its normal form and prime form.


1. Put the following collections into normal order on the staff below.

normal
form

prime
form


2. Put the following collections into its normal and prime orders using integers.

Normal form Prime Form

a. 11, 5, 7, 2 ___________________________________________________________________________

b. 0, 10, 5 ___________________________________________________________________________

c. 7, 6, 9, 1 ___________________________________________________________________________

d. Eb, C, B, Bb, E, G ___________________________________________________________________________