journal article·2025-03-14Open access

Evaluating Preprocessing Techniques for Unsupervised Mode Detection in Irish Traditional Music

Juan José Navarro-Cáceres, Diego M. Jiménez-Bravo, María Navarro-Cáceres

Applied Sciences· Volume 15· Issue 6

Abstract

Significant computational research has been dedicated to automatic key and mode detection in Western tonal music, particularly within the major and minor modes. However, limited research has focused on identifying alternative diatonic modes in traditional and folk music contexts. This paper addresses this gap by comparing the effectiveness of various preprocessing techniques in unsupervised machine learning for diatonic mode detection. Using a dataset of Irish folk music that incorporates diatonic modes such as Ionian, Dorian, Mixolydian, and Aeolian, we assess how different preprocessing approaches influence clustering accuracy and mode distinction. By examining multiple feature transformations and reductions, this study highlights the impact of preprocessing choices on clustering performance, aiming to optimize the unsupervised classification of diatonic modes in folk music traditions.
Source: crossref · Quality: baseline

Research context

OpenAlex topics: Music and Audio Processing · Diverse Musicological Studies · Music Technology and Sound Studies

SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.

Affiliations

Expert Systems and Applications Lab, Faculty of Science, University of Salamanca, Plaza de los Caídos s/n, 37008 Salamanca, Spain

Funding

EA-DIGIFOLK: An European and Ibero-American approach for the digital collection, analysis and dissemination of folk music · Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Staff Exchanges

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