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Hoots : How are key signatures for quarter tones denoted? For example, in 31-TET, all tones are accessible via (double) sharps or (double) flats on CDEFGAB. So there exists key signatures, for example, D double-flat major. (That's - freshhoot.com

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How are key signatures for quarter tones denoted?
For example, in 31-TET, all tones are accessible via (double) sharps or (double) flats on CDEFGAB. So there exists key signatures, for example, D double-flat major. (That's same as C half-sharp major.) Wikipedia has a comprehensive list of the keys.

But what for 24-TET? The in-between tones are not accessible via sharps nor flats on CDEFGAB. I can't think of the key signature, for example, C half-sharp major. How should they be denoted?


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A quartertone key signature sounds extremely complicated and painful to read.

If for some reason you need to notate a piece in a quartertone key I'd say add staff text at the beginning of the piece telling the performer to re-tune their instrument a quartertone up or down and use the nearest normal key signature.

Alternatively, use no key signature and go wild with the half-accidentals.


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A quick DuckDuckGo search for ‘24-TET notation’ leads to the wikipedia article on quarter tones which shows one possible notation system ,and to Introduction to quarter tones which details another.

As a player who only ever produces quarter tones accidentally or as part of a slide, I cannot advise on which is ‘better’ ...


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