Prime Numbers rule Music

So I realize that I may be behind more than some people, but I had one of the realization moments, that was really huge. I don’t think that it will change my life or anything as dramatic as that, but this is one of those, “I can’t believe I didn’t think or see this before”

So what is this realization?

Every note is prime. (in a way)

Basically, let’s start with the scale…

1 – 2 – 3 – 4 – 5 -6 – 7- 8

Right, off the bat; 1,2,3,5 & 7 are already prime.  We are left with 4, 6, and 8.  Most times we don’t say 8 though.  We repeat 1 for it instead.  Back to a prime number again.  Still, left with 4 & 6.  When we are talking about chords, and these notes are involved we could refer to them a sus, or suspended.  Or a note being suspended in the chord, and therefor use 4 or 6 with the chord.  We certainly have 100s of different 6th chords to choose from already.

What I was getting at, is that we many times use these “chord tones” in terms of their upper extension.  Basically 4 becomes 11, or prime.  The 6th becomes the 13th or prime.

so.

1 – 2 – 3 – 11 – 5 -13 – 7 – 1