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Music vocabulary · Music Theory and Harmony

Diatonic

Meaning in music, with examples

adjectiveCommon term

In music, diatonic means: Using the notes of a major scale, a natural minor scale or a mode of that pattern: seven notes arranged with five whole steps and two separated half steps.

In Turkish: diyatonik

How it is used

Used for melodies, chords and harmony relative to a diatonic scale. Having seven notes alone is not enough: harmonic minor has a different step pattern.

Example sentences

  1. Keep the first exercise diatonic so beginners can use only the C major notes.

    The teacher limits the pitch choices to one scale for this exercise.

  2. Her diatonic accompaniment leaves room for the soloist's more colourful notes.

    The accompaniment stays within the scale while the solo may introduce outside pitches.

Common collocations

  • diatonic scale
  • diatonic harmony
  • diatonic chord
  • scaleA set of notes played in order of pitch, going up or down, that follows a fixed pattern of steps. Scales are the building blocks of melodies and chords.
  • harmonyThe sound of different notes heard together, and the way chords are built and connected. It also means a second vocal line sung above or below the melody.
  • chordThree or more different notes played or sung at the same time. Chords give a piece its harmony and are named after their root note and type, such as C major or A minor.

More terms: Music Theory and Harmony

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