adjective
definition
Relating to or characteristic of a musical scale which contains seven pitches and a pattern of five whole tones and two semitones; particularly, of the major or natural minor scales.
Examples of diatonic in a Sentence
We shall treat only of the diatonic scale, which is the basis of European music, and is approximated to as closely as is consistent with convenience of construction in key-board instruments, such as the piano, where the eight white notes beginning with C and ending with C an octave higher may be taken as representing the scale with C as the key-note.
Now suppose we take G as the key-note and form its diatonic scale.
But Zarlino uncompromisingly declared that the syntonous or intense diatonic scale was the only form that could reasonably be sung; and in proof of its perfection he exhibited the exact arrangement of its various diatonic intervals, to the fifth inclusive, in every part of the diapason or octave.
The frequency ratios in the diatonic scale are all expressible either as fractions, with i, 2, 3 or 5 as numerator and denominator, or as products of such fractions; and it may be shown that for a given note the numerator and denominator are smaller than any other numbers which would give us a note in the immediate neighbourhood.
It is evident that for exact diatonic scales for even a limited number of key-notes, key-board instruments would have to be provided with a great number of separate strings or pipes, and the corresponding keys would be required.
The fretting of the instrument is basically diatonic, but it is not the same in each octave.
Yet the symphony also reconciles the intricately serial derivation of its material with a clearly diatonic goal.
This is brooding music, often slow, taking time to unfold, embracing extreme dissonance as well as tender, diatonic harmonies.
The whistle is a diatonic instrument with simple fingering, and it's very easy to learn to play - easier than the recorder.
One of the main differences in the many available models of diatonic harmonica is the material that the comb is made from.
Complete with solo and accompanied pieces, this book is suitable for all diatonic and chromatic harmonicas.
The term usually excludes the ringing of the bells according to the diatonic scale in which they are hung (see Bell).
The brilliant success of Humperdinck's Hansel and Gretel, in which Wagnerian technique is applied to the diatonic style of nursery songs with a humorous accuracy undreamed of by Wagner's imitators, points a moral which would have charmed Wagner himself; but until the revival of some rudiments of musical common sense becomes widespread, there is little prospect of the influence of Wagner's harmonic style being productive of anything better than nonsense.
Claudius Ptolemy (130) rectified this error, and in the so-called syntonous or intense diatonic scale reduced the proportions of his tetrachord to s, iii, f, -i.
This is termed the equal temperament scale, and it is obviously only an approach to the diatonic scale.
Then the trio of David Rolland on the diatonic accordion played music in the Cajun style of Louisiana.