diatonic

Not chromatic music

Diatonic describes music based on a standard seven-note scale—the familiar pattern of whole and half steps that produces major and minor keys.

A diatonic melody stays within its key signature without chromatic alterations: The folk song uses only diatonic intervals.

Most Western music before the twentieth century was predominantly diatonic.

intervals

unison

Simultaneous identical action

secondUnit smaller than minute
thirdPosition number three
fourthOrdinal for position four

fifth · sixth · seventh · octave · perfect · major · minor · augmented · diminished · tritone

scales

major

Of chief importance

minorScale with lowered third
IonianEastern Mediterranean region
DorianHellenic people or name

Lydian · Aeolian · mode · tetrachord · half-step · stepwise · conjunct

harmony

chord

Notes sounded simultaneously

triadGroup of three
tonicInvigorating medicinal drink
dominantHaving superior influence

subdominant · mediant · progression · cadence · resolution · consonance · dissonance · functional · counterpoint · polyphony

notation

accidental

Occurring by chance

sharpFine-edged, or astute
flatLacking vertical variation
naturalNot artificially produced

staff · A-minor · transposition · modulation · clef · pitch · note · enharmonic

contrast

atonal

Without musical key

twelve-toneSerialism using all pitches
microtonalUsing non-standard pitch intervals
alteredChanged from before

outside · accidental

Categories

musicmusic, song, songs, singing, singer
pitchfastball, curveball, slider, changeup, sinker
scalesweight, measure, balance, balance scale, digital scale
harmonyharmony, chord, chords, triad, triads
music fundamentalsdo, re, mi, fa, sol
music adjectivesmelodic, harmonic, rhythmic, tonal, tuneful

Opposites

scale structure

diatonicchromatic

Relating to color

twelve-tone · atonal · microtonal · unkeyed · serial

Family

chromatic, pentatonic

Familiarity: Top 1,000,000
Profile: Used worldwide · Timeless · Abstract · Rated G