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Webster 1913 Edition


Diatonic

Diˊa-ton′ic

(dīˊȧ-tŏn′ĭk)
,
Adj.
[L.
diatonicus
,
diatonus
, Gr. [GREEK], [GREEK], fr. [GREEK] to stretch out;
διά
through + [GREEK] to stretch: cf. F.
diatonique
. See
Tone
.]
(Mus.)
Pertaining to the scale of eight tones, the eighth of which is the octave of the first.
Diatonic scale
(Mus.)
,
a scale consisting of eight sounds with seven intervals, of which two are semitones and five are whole tones; a modern major or minor scale, as distinguished from the
chromatic
scale.

Webster 1828 Edition


Diatonic

DIATONIC

,
Adj.
[Gr., by or through, sound.] Ascending or descending, as in sound, or from sound to sound. This epithet is given to a scale or gammut, to intervals of a certain kind, or to music composed of these intervals; as a diatonic series; a diatonic interval; diatonic melody or harmony. It is applied to ordinary music, containing only the two greater and lesser tones, and the greater semitone.

Definition 2024


diatonic

diatonic

English

Adjective

diatonic (comparative more diatonic, superlative most diatonic)

  1. (music) Within the boundaries of a musical scale, most commonly the Western major or minor tonalities that have octaves of seven notes in a particular configuration

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