DIATONIC

diatonic

(adjective) based on the standard major or minor scales consisting of 5 tones and 2 semitones without modulation by accidentals

diatonic

(adjective) based on or using the five tones and two semitones of the major or minor scales of western music

Source: WordNet® 3.1

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Etymology

Adjective

diatonic (not comparable)

(music) 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.

Antonyms

• chromatic

Anagrams

• actinoid, dication, naticoid

Source: Wiktionary

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Di`a*ton"ic, a. Etym: [L. diatonicus, diatonus, Gr. diatonique. See Tone.] (Mus.)

Definition: 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.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition

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