kennethreitz · March 26, 2026 15:44
diff --git a/major_minor_pentatonic.py b/major_minor_pentatonic.py
 """Mixing major and minor pentatonic over the same changes.

 "Once you start mixing major and minor pentatonic over the same changes
 it's a whole different world. That's where the magic lives."

 Uses PyTheory's blues scale system — the notes come from the scales,
 not hardcoded. Change the tonic and it works in any key.

 Requires: pip install pytheory
          brew install portaudio  (macOS)
 """

 import random
 from pytheory import Score, Pattern, Duration, Chord, TonedScale
 from pytheory.play import render_score, SAMPLE_RATE
 import sounddevice as sd

 # ── The two scales ──────────────────────────────────────────────────
 TONIC = "A"

 ts = TonedScale(tonic=f"{TONIC}4", system="blues")
 minor_pent = ts["minor pentatonic"]
 major_pent = ts["major pentatonic"]

 minor_notes = minor_pent.note_names[:-1]  # A C D E G
 major_notes = major_pent.note_names[:-1]  # A B C# E F#

 print(f"  {TONIC} minor pentatonic: {' '.join(minor_notes)}")
 print(f"  {TONIC} major pentatonic: {' '.join(major_notes)}")
 print()

 # ── Score ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 score = Score("4/4", bpm=90, drum_humanize=0.2)
 score.drums("shuffle", repeats=8)

 rhodes = score.part(
    "rhodes", synth="fm", envelope="piano",
    volume=0.25, pan=-0.3,
    reverb=0.3, reverb_type="plate",
    humanize=0.2,
 )
 lead = score.part(
    "lead", synth="triangle", envelope="strings",
    volume=0.45, pan=0.2,
    legato=True, glide=0.06,
    reverb=0.25, reverb_type="plate",
    delay=0.15, delay_time=0.33, delay_feedback=0.3,
    humanize=0.2,
 )
 bass = score.part(
    "bass", synth="sine", envelope="pluck",
    volume=0.4, lowpass=500, humanize=0.15,
 )

 # ── Chords: simple blues in the tonic ──
 for sym in [f"{TONIC}7"] * 2 + [f"D7"] * 2 + [f"{TONIC}7"] * 2 + ["E7", f"{TONIC}7"]:
    rhodes.add(Chord.from_symbol(sym), Duration.WHOLE)

 # ── Bass: root-fifth from chord tones ──
 for sym in [f"{TONIC}7"] * 2 + ["D7"] * 2 + [f"{TONIC}7"] * 2 + ["E7", f"{TONIC}7"]:
    c = Chord.from_symbol(sym)
    r = c.root
    fifth = r.add(7)
    bass.add(f"{r.name}2", Duration.QUARTER, velocity=95)
    bass.add(f"{r.name}2", Duration.QUARTER, velocity=55)
    bass.add(f"{fifth.name}2", Duration.QUARTER, velocity=65)
    bass.add(f"{r.name}2", Duration.QUARTER, velocity=75)

 # ── Lead: phrase generator mixing both pentatonics ──
 def phrase(notes, octave, beats, style="melodic"):
    """Generate a phrase from a set of scale notes."""
    result = []
    remaining = beats
    while remaining > 0.5:
        if random.random() < 0.2:
            r = random.choice([0.5, 1.0])
            r = min(r, remaining)
            result.append((None, 0, r))
            remaining -= r
        else:
            n = random.choice(notes)
            d = random.choice([0.67, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0])
            d = min(d, remaining)
            v = random.randint(60, 100)
            result.append((f"{n}{octave}", v, d))
            remaining -= d
    return result

 # 8 bars: alternate between minor and major pent, then mix
 # Bars 1-2: pure minor (dark)
 for note_data in phrase(minor_notes, 5, 4) + phrase(minor_notes, 5, 4):
    n, v, d = note_data
    lead.rest(d) if n is None else lead.add(n, d, velocity=v)

 # Bars 3-4: pure major (bright) — hear the difference
 for note_data in phrase(major_notes, 5, 4) + phrase(major_notes, 5, 4):
    n, v, d = note_data
    lead.rest(d) if n is None else lead.add(n, d, velocity=v)

 # Bars 5-6: MIXED — this is where the magic lives
 mixed = minor_notes + major_notes  # both scales in one pool
 for note_data in phrase(mixed, 5, 4) + phrase(mixed, 5, 4):
    n, v, d = note_data
    lead.rest(d) if n is None else lead.add(n, d, velocity=v)

 # Bars 7-8: mixed with longer notes to let it breathe
 for note_data in phrase(mixed, 5, 4, "melodic") + phrase(mixed, 4, 4):
    n, v, d = note_data
    lead.rest(d) if n is None else lead.add(n, d, velocity=v)

 # ── Play ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 buf = render_score(score)

 print(f"  🎵  {TONIC} Blues — Major + Minor Pentatonic")
 print("  " + "─" * 50)
 print("  bars 1-2: minor only (dark)")
 print("  bars 3-4: major only (bright)")
 print("  bars 5-8: mixed (the magic)")
 print()
 print("  change TONIC to any note and it works.")
 print()

 sd.play(buf, SAMPLE_RATE)
 sd.wait()
 print("  🎵")
	"""Mixing major and minor pentatonic over the same changes.

	"Once you start mixing major and minor pentatonic over the same changes
	it's a whole different world. That's where the magic lives."

	Uses PyTheory's blues scale system — the notes come from the scales,
	not hardcoded. Change the tonic and it works in any key.

	Requires: pip install pytheory
	brew install portaudio (macOS)
	"""

	import random
	from pytheory import Score, Pattern, Duration, Chord, TonedScale
	from pytheory.play import render_score, SAMPLE_RATE
	import sounddevice as sd

	# ── The two scales ──────────────────────────────────────────────────
	TONIC = "A"

	ts = TonedScale(tonic=f"{TONIC}4", system="blues")
	minor_pent = ts["minor pentatonic"]
	major_pent = ts["major pentatonic"]

	minor_notes = minor_pent.note_names[:-1] # A C D E G
	major_notes = major_pent.note_names[:-1] # A B C# E F#

	print(f" {TONIC} minor pentatonic: {' '.join(minor_notes)}")
	print(f" {TONIC} major pentatonic: {' '.join(major_notes)}")
	print()

	# ── Score ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
	score = Score("4/4", bpm=90, drum_humanize=0.2)
	score.drums("shuffle", repeats=8)

	rhodes = score.part(
	"rhodes", synth="fm", envelope="piano",
	volume=0.25, pan=-0.3,
	reverb=0.3, reverb_type="plate",
	humanize=0.2,
	)
	lead = score.part(
	"lead", synth="triangle", envelope="strings",
	volume=0.45, pan=0.2,
	legato=True, glide=0.06,
	reverb=0.25, reverb_type="plate",
	delay=0.15, delay_time=0.33, delay_feedback=0.3,
	humanize=0.2,
	)
	bass = score.part(
	"bass", synth="sine", envelope="pluck",
	volume=0.4, lowpass=500, humanize=0.15,
	)

	# ── Chords: simple blues in the tonic ──
	for sym in [f"{TONIC}7"] * 2 + [f"D7"] * 2 + [f"{TONIC}7"] * 2 + ["E7", f"{TONIC}7"]:
	rhodes.add(Chord.from_symbol(sym), Duration.WHOLE)

	# ── Bass: root-fifth from chord tones ──
	for sym in [f"{TONIC}7"] * 2 + ["D7"] * 2 + [f"{TONIC}7"] * 2 + ["E7", f"{TONIC}7"]:
	c = Chord.from_symbol(sym)
	r = c.root
	fifth = r.add(7)
	bass.add(f"{r.name}2", Duration.QUARTER, velocity=95)
	bass.add(f"{r.name}2", Duration.QUARTER, velocity=55)
	bass.add(f"{fifth.name}2", Duration.QUARTER, velocity=65)
	bass.add(f"{r.name}2", Duration.QUARTER, velocity=75)

	# ── Lead: phrase generator mixing both pentatonics ──
	def phrase(notes, octave, beats, style="melodic"):
	"""Generate a phrase from a set of scale notes."""
	result = []
	remaining = beats
	while remaining > 0.5:
	if random.random() < 0.2:
	r = random.choice([0.5, 1.0])
	r = min(r, remaining)
	result.append((None, 0, r))
	remaining -= r
	else:
	n = random.choice(notes)
	d = random.choice([0.67, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0])
	d = min(d, remaining)
	v = random.randint(60, 100)
	result.append((f"{n}{octave}", v, d))
	remaining -= d
	return result

	# 8 bars: alternate between minor and major pent, then mix
	# Bars 1-2: pure minor (dark)
	for note_data in phrase(minor_notes, 5, 4) + phrase(minor_notes, 5, 4):
	n, v, d = note_data
	lead.rest(d) if n is None else lead.add(n, d, velocity=v)

	# Bars 3-4: pure major (bright) — hear the difference
	for note_data in phrase(major_notes, 5, 4) + phrase(major_notes, 5, 4):
	n, v, d = note_data
	lead.rest(d) if n is None else lead.add(n, d, velocity=v)

	# Bars 5-6: MIXED — this is where the magic lives
	mixed = minor_notes + major_notes # both scales in one pool
	for note_data in phrase(mixed, 5, 4) + phrase(mixed, 5, 4):
	n, v, d = note_data
	lead.rest(d) if n is None else lead.add(n, d, velocity=v)

	# Bars 7-8: mixed with longer notes to let it breathe
	for note_data in phrase(mixed, 5, 4, "melodic") + phrase(mixed, 4, 4):
	n, v, d = note_data
	lead.rest(d) if n is None else lead.add(n, d, velocity=v)

	# ── Play ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
	buf = render_score(score)

	print(f" 🎵 {TONIC} Blues — Major + Minor Pentatonic")
	print(" " + "─" * 50)
	print(" bars 1-2: minor only (dark)")
	print(" bars 3-4: major only (bright)")
	print(" bars 5-8: mixed (the magic)")
	print()
	print(" change TONIC to any note and it works.")
	print()

	sd.play(buf, SAMPLE_RATE)
	sd.wait()
	print(" 🎵")
No results found