core

@tonaljs/core

Parse notes and interval names. Calculate distances and transpositions

@tonaljs/core is the core module of the tonal music theory library.

Normally you don't use this module directly.

Example

Get note and interval properties:

import { note, interval } from "@tonaljs/core";
note("c4"); // => { name: 'C4', oct: 4, ...}
interval("p5"); // => { name: '5P', semitones: 7, ...}

Transpose notes and calculate intervals:

import { transpose, distance } from "@tonaljs/core";
transpose("C4", "5P"); // => "G4"
distance("C4", "G4"); // => "5P"

API

note(name: string) => Note

Given a note name, it returns an object with the following properties:

• name: the note name
• pc: the pitch class name
• letter: the note letter
• step: the letter number (0..6)
• acc: the note accidentals
• alt: the accidental number (..., -1 = 'b', 0 = '', 1 = '#', ...)
• oct: the octave (or null if not present)
• chroma: the note chroma (0..11)
• midi: the note midi or null if octave is not present
• freq: the note frequency in Hertzes, or null if the octave is note present

Example:

note("ab4");
// =>
// {
//   name: "Ab4",
//   pc: "Ab",
//   letter: "A",
//   acc: "b",
//   step: 5,
//   alt: -1,
//   oct: 4,
//   chroma: 8,
//   midi: 68,
//   freq: 415.3046975799451,
// }

This function always returns an object:

note("hello"); // => { empty: true, name: "" }

interval(name: string) => Interval

Given an interval name, ite returns an object with the following properties:

• name: the interval name
• type: perfectable | majorable
• dir: direction: 1 | -1
• num: the interval number
• q: quality (...| 'dd' | 'd' | 'm' | 'M' | 'A' | ...)
• alt: the quality number as a number
• oct: the number of octaves it spans
• semitones: the number of semitones it spans
• simple: the simplified number

Example:

interval("4d");
// =>
// {
//   name: "4d",
//   type: "perfectable",
//   dir: 1,
//   num: 4,
//   q: "d",
//   alt: -1,
//   chroma: 4,
//   oct: 0,
//   semitones: 4,
//   simple: 4,
// }

This function always returns an object:

interval("hello"); // => { empty: true, name: "" }

transpose(note: string, interval: string) => string

Transpose a note by an interval. It returns the note name or "" if not valid parameters.

Examples:

transpose("d3", "3M"); // => "F#3"
transpose("D", "3M"); // => "F#"
["C", "D", "E", "F", "G"].map((pc) => transpose(pc, "M3"));
// => ["E", "F#", "G#", "A", "B"]

This function always returns a string:

transpose("one", "two"); // => ""

distance(from: string, to: string) => string

Find the distance between two notes. It returns the interval name, or "" if not valid parameters.

Examples:

distance("C3", "E4"); // => "10M"

If one of the note is a pitch class, the interval will be simple:

distance("C", "E"); // => "3M"
distance("C", "E4"); // => "3M"
distance("C4", "E"); // => "3M"

This function always returns a string:

distance("today", "tomorrow"); // => ""

Want more?

Take a look to @tonaljs/note or @tonaljs/interval modules.

FAQ

How do I get the note frequency and midi number?

note("C4").octave; // => 4
note("C4").midi; // => 60

How do I know if a note name is valid?

note("C4").empty; // => false
note("x").empty; // => true
note("x").name; // => ""
note("x").octave; // => undefined
// remove all invalid note names
[...].map(note).filter(n => !n.empty).map(n => n.name)

How do I know if two notes are enharmonics?

You can test the midi numbers:

note("Cb4").midi === note("B3").midi;

Or better yet, use the height property that is also present on pitch classes (in notes without octaves midi property is null):

note("Cb").height === note("B").height;

How do I change the octave of a note?

note("Cb4").pc + 5; // => "Cb5"