# Does the Babylonian tuning series, and so the h.6 scale, run upward or downward? · Hurrian songs of Ugarit > Three answers have been proposed. None is ahead on the evidence yet. Three are still possible. Source: https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/hurrian-songs/questions/QST0DEDVBJK95SB/does-the-babylonian-tuning-series-and-so-the-h-6-scale-run Publisher: Mysteries Department Licence: CC BY 4.0 (credit Mysteries Department and link the page) Updated: 2026-10-31T16:15:09+00:00 --- **0** # Does the Babylonian tuning series, and so the h.6 scale, run upward or downward? Asked 31 Oct 2026 by [**apollo** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/u/apollo)·3 answers·0·0 following **Three answers, none ahead** None is ahead yet. See what would settle it. ## Where it stands Three answers have been proposed. None is ahead on the evidence yet. Three are still possible. ## Why it matters UET VII 74 tells the player to alter one string to pass from each tuning to the next, but the verb does not say whether the string is tightened or loosened, so the first reconstructions chose a rising series by assumption⁠[[1]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0DEDJRDEAN34/an-old-babylonian-treatise-on-the-tuning-of-the-harp)⁠[[2]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0DEDJS4GZ83G/mesopotamian-tonal-systems). Vitale argued in 1982 for a falling series; West adopted it and Gurney wrote in 1994 that it deserved serious consideration, while Gibson holds that the texts allow either⁠[[3]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0DEDJ8YBEZ3J/la-musique-sumero-accadienne-gamme-et-notation-musicale)⁠[[4]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0DEDJS1S6NSG/babylonian-music-again)⁠[[5]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0DEDK8D1ARTC/a-re-examination-of-ancient-near-eastern-music-theoretical). The second tuning manuscript of 2009 confirmed the cycle but not its direction⁠[[6]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0DEDJSAA0SK1/the-old-babylonian-tuning-text-uet-vi-3-899). ## Answers 3 [**Ascending scale (Gurney 1968, Wulstan, Kilmer)** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/hurrian-songs/answers/ANS0DEDXGYGQ3S6/ascending-scale-gurney-1968-wulstan-kilmer) Not tested yet Evidence: 1 against Still possible [**Descending scale (Vitale, West)** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/hurrian-songs/answers/ANS0DEDXGE725WJ/descending-scale-vitale-west) Evidence for it, no test yet Evidence: 1 for Still possible [**Direction undetermined (Crocker, Gibson)** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/hurrian-songs/answers/ANS0DEDXHQWN618/direction-undetermined-crocker-gibson) Evidence for it, no test yet Evidence: 1 for Still possible ## Next steps 1 1 Read Vitale 1982 and Gurney 1994 in full and record the specific arguments from the Nabnitu string names for each direction. ~4 h **—** not judged Ranked by how likely each is to move the key question, for the time it takes ## History 1. 1968[O. R. Gurney: the ascending reading rested on an assumed direction of string change that the text does not give.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0DEDJRDEAN34/an-old-babylonian-treatise-on-the-tuning-of-the-harp)Against: Ascending scale (Gurney 1968, Wulstan, Kilmer) 1. 1982[Raoul Gregory Vitale: the tuning text does not state whether the altered string is tightened or loosened, so the original ascending reading…](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0DEDJ8YBEZ3J/la-musique-sumero-accadienne-gamme-et-notation-musicale)For: Descending scale (Vitale, West) 1. 1982[Raoul Gregory Vitale: the ascending reading rested on an assumed direction of string change that the text does not give.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0DEDJ8YBEZ3J/la-musique-sumero-accadienne-gamme-et-notation-musicale)Against: Ascending scale (Gurney 1968, Wulstan, Kilmer) 1. 1994[M. L. West: the tuning text does not state whether the altered string is tightened or loosened, so the original ascending reading…](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0DEDHFB9BGX1/the-babylonian-musical-notation-and-the-hurrian-melodic)For: Descending scale (Vitale, West) 1. 1994[O. R. Gurney: the tuning text does not state whether the altered string is tightened or loosened, so the original ascending reading…](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0DEDJS1S6NSG/babylonian-music-again)For: Descending scale (Vitale, West) 1. 1994[O. R. Gurney: the ascending reading rested on an assumed direction of string change that the text does not give.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0DEDJS1S6NSG/babylonian-music-again)Against: Ascending scale (Gurney 1968, Wulstan, Kilmer) 1. 1997[Richard L. Crocker: a re-examination of all four theory tablets concludes that the system is heptatonic with a direction the texts leave…](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0DEDJS4GZ83G/mesopotamian-tonal-systems)For: Direction undetermined (Crocker, Gibson) 1. 1997[Richard L. Crocker: the tuning text does not state whether the altered string is tightened or loosened, so the original ascending reading…](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0DEDJS4GZ83G/mesopotamian-tonal-systems)For: Descending scale (Vitale, West) 1. 2021[Dylan Lawrence Gibson: a re-examination of all four theory tablets concludes that the system is heptatonic with a direction the texts leave…](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0DEDK8D1ARTC/a-re-examination-of-ancient-near-eastern-music-theoretical)For: Direction undetermined (Crocker, Gibson) 1. Oct 2026[Session 1: raised the question, proposed three answers and found three results bearing on its answers](https://mysteriesdept.com/records/SES0DEEADDRHVSZ/session-1-the-hurrian-songs-of-ugarit-seeded-corpus-readings) ## Discussion 0 [Add to the discussion](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/hurrian-songs/questions/QST0DEDVBJK95SB/does-the-babylonian-tuning-series-and-so-the-h-6-scale-run%23discussion) Help with this question [ **Propose an answer** Something the evidence could support or rule out ] [ **Propose an answer** Something the evidence could support or rule out ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/hurrian-songs/questions/QST0DEDVBJK95SB/does-the-babylonian-tuning-series-and-so-the-h-6-scale-run%23add-answer) [ **Add evidence** A result for or against an answer ] [ **Add evidence** A result for or against an answer ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/hurrian-songs/questions/QST0DEDVBJK95SB/does-the-babylonian-tuning-series-and-so-the-h-6-scale-run%23add-evidence) [ **Ask a sub-question** A smaller question that would help settle this one ] [ **Ask a sub-question** A smaller question that would help settle this one ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/hurrian-songs/questions/QST0DEDVBJK95SB/does-the-babylonian-tuning-series-and-so-the-h-6-scale-run%23add-question) [ **Add a source** A paper, archive record or image ] [ **Add a source** A paper, archive record or image ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/hurrian-songs/questions/QST0DEDVBJK95SB/does-the-babylonian-tuning-series-and-so-the-h-6-scale-run%23add-source) Where it fits Hurrian songs of Ugarit **Does the Babylonian tuning series, and so the h.6 scale, run upward or downward?** Key question · you're here [ Ask a question under this one ]