chord etymology

Etymology and Meaning

The word "chord" derives from the Middle English word "cords" or "cordes," which itself originated from the Old French word "corde" and the Latin word "chorda." In ancient Greek, the related term "chordē" referred to the strings of a musical instrument.

The term "chord" in music refers to a combination of three or more notes played simultaneously, producing a harmonious sound.

Origin

The concept of chords has been an integral part of music for centuries. In ancient Greek music, the Pythagorean scale was the basis for constructing chords. The Greeks used triads, which are three-note chords, and considered the perfect consonance to be a fifth and octave apart, the imperfect consonance to be a third and sixth apart, and the dissonance to be a second and seventh apart.

In Western music, chords have evolved over time, with the development of different musical styles and the use of different instruments. In the Medieval period, organum music employed parallel chords, where three or more voices moved in parallel lines. During the Renaissance, polyphony emerged, which allowed for more complex and independent chord progressions.

Harmony developed as a fundamental concept in Baroque music, with chords becoming the primary means of organizing and shaping musical compositions. In the 19th century, the use of extended harmony, with chords containing more than three notes, became prevalent in Romantic music.

Throughout the history of music, chords have served as essential building blocks, providing harmonic structure, melodic support, and expressive potential.

chord relate terms

  • accord

    Etymology The word accord has its roots in Latin accordāre to be in agreement

  • concord

    Etymology The word concord derives from the Latin word concordis which means harmo

  • discord

    Etymology Discord is derived from the Latin word discordia which means disagreement

  • according

    Etymology From Greek apo away phora bearing Meaning A moving away depar

  • cord

    Etymology The word cord has its roots in the Proto Indo European PIE word kordh m

  • harmonize

    Etymology The word harmonize comes from the Greek word harmonia which means conco

  • accordion

    Etymology From French accordéon from its inventor s name Kirchner accorded in German

  • sine

    Origin Latin sinus curve bay fold Meaning In mathematics the sine of an ang

  • progression

    Etymology The word progression comes from the Latin word progressio which is derive

  • blues

    Etymology The word blues has its roots in several languages English Blue devils

  • alert

    Etymology The word alert comes from the Latin word alterāre which means to alter

  • alter

    Etymology The word alter comes from the Latin verb alterare which means to change

  • change

    Etymology Etymology is the study of the origin and development of words It traces words

  • modify

    1 Etymology a Definition The study of the history of words including their origins f

  • note

    Etymology Note comes from the Latin word nota meaning mark or sign Meaning A