diatonic etymology

Etymology

The word "diatonic" is derived from the Greek word "διάτονος" (diatónos), meaning "passing through tones." It is composed of the following elements:

  • "διά" (dia-) meaning "through"
  • "τόνος" (tónos) meaning "tone"

Meaning and Origin

In music, the term "diatonic" refers to a scale or musical system that uses only the natural notes of the major or minor scale. These notes are arranged in a specific order, with half steps between some notes and whole steps between others.

The diatonic scale has been used for centuries in Western music. It forms the basis of many traditional folk songs, classical compositions, and popular music. The notes of the diatonic scale are:

Major Scale: C D E F G A B C

Minor Scale: C D Eb F G Ab Bb C

The diatonic scale is also used in modal music, where different modes create different emotional effects. The most common modes are:

  • Ionian (Major)
  • Aeolian (Minor)
  • Dorian
  • Phrygian
  • Lydian
  • Mixolydian
  • Locrian

Characteristics of Diatonic Music

  • Uses only the natural notes of the major or minor scale
  • Has the characteristic sound of Western music
  • Is often used in folk, classical, and popular music
  • Can have a variety of moods and emotions, depending on the mode used

diatonic relate terms

  • abstain

    Etymology Middle English abstynen Old French and Anglo Norman abstinence Latin absti

  • abstention

    Etymology The word abstention is derived from the Latin word abstinere which means

  • abstinence

    Etymology Late Middle English from Old French abstinence from Latin abstinentia from

  • abstinent

    Etymology The word abstinent comes from the Latin word abstinens which means refra

  • atelectasis

    Etymology The word atelectasis is derived from the Greek words ἀτελής atelē

  • attend

    Etymology Old French atendre Late Latin attendere from ad to towards tendere

  • attenuate

    Etymology Late Latin attenuare from Latin attenuis thin slender slight From Proto

  • attenuation

    Etymology Latin attenuare to make thin Proto Indo European ten thin Meani

  • baritone

    Etymology Late Middle English 14th century from Italian baritono from Greek barys

  • catatonia

    Etymology Catatonia is derived from Greek roots Kata down Tonos tone or te

  • catatonic

    Etymology Greek katatonia katá down tonos tension Meaning A state of reduced

  • contain

    Etymology Latin continere Late Latin contēnere Meaning To hold or enclose s

  • contend

    Etymology and Meaning Contend comes from the Latin word contendere which means to str

  • continue

    Etymology Latin continuus uninterrupted continuous Meaning and Origin 1 Cont

  • detain

    Etymology Old French detenir Latin detinere from detinere to detain hold back Pre

  • detente

    Etymology French détendre to loosen relax from Late Latin distendere to stretch ou

  • detention

    Etymology Derived from Latin detinere meaning to hold back detain or keep De

  • diatonic

    Etymology The word diatonic is derived from the Greek word διάτονος diatóno

  • distend

    Etymology From Middle English disten dysten c 1400 from Anglo Norman French disten

  • entertain

    Etymology Derivatives of the word entertain include Old French entartenir to hol

  • extend

    Etymology Origin Latin extendere meaning to stretch out Meaning To lengthen str

  • extenuate

    Etymology Latin extenuare Meaning to make thin weaken Meaning Extenuate mean

  • hypotenuse

    Etymology The word hypotenuse is derived from the Greek words hypo below or un

  • hypotonia

    Etymology hypo Greek under or below tonos Greek tone or tension Meanin

  • intend

    Etymology Middle English entenden from Anglo Norman French entendre from Medieval La

  • intone

    Etymology The word intone derives from the Latin verb intonāre meaning to thunder

  • isotonic

    Etymology The term isotonic is derived from two Greek roots iso meaning equal

  • lieutenant

    Etymology The word lieutenant comes from the Old French word lieutenant which in tur

  • locum tenens

    Etymology Latin locum place tenens holding Meaning A person who temporarily

  • maintain

    Etymology Derived from the Old French word maintenir which means to hold keep or

  • monotony

    Etymology Latin monotonia Greek monos single sole tonos tone Meaning

  • neoteny

    Etymology The word neoteny is derived from the Greek words neos νέος meaning

  • obtain

    Etymology the study of the origin of words and the way in which their meanings have chang

  • ostensible

    Etymology Latin ostendere to show exhibit Past participle ostensus French os

  • peritoneum

    Etymology Greek peri around teinein to stretch Meaning A serous membran

  • pertain

    Etymology Latin pertinēre to belong to to have a relation to to concern Proto In

  • pertinacious

    Etymology Late Latin pertinacis pertinax resolute persistent Latin pertinere to

  • portend

    Etymology Old French portendre Latin portendere from porro forward tendere t

  • pretend

    Pretend Etymology From Middle English pretenden meaning to claim or profess to be

  • rein

    Rein Etymology The word rein is derived from the Middle English term reine which is

  • retain

    Etymology Retain is derived from the Latin word retinere meaning to hold back ke

  • retinue

    Etymology The word retinue is derived from the Old French word retenue which means

  • sitar

    Etymology The word sitar is derived from the Persian word setar which means three s

  • subtend

    Etymology Old French subtendre Latin sub under tendere to stretch Meaning

  • sustain

    Etymology Latin sustinēre to hold up sustain endure Proto Indo European steh₂

  • telangiectasia

    Etymology Telangiectasia is derived from the Greek roots Telangi meaning blood ves

  • temple

    Etymology The English word temple is derived from the Latin word templum which in t

  • temple

    Etymology The English word temple is derived from the Latin word templum which in t

  • temporal

    Etymology The word temporal is derived from Latin temporalis which in turn comes fro

  • tenable

    Etymology Latin tenēre to hold keep possess Indo European root ten to stretch

  • tenacious

    Etymology Latin tenax tenacis holding fast grasping Proto Indo European ten

  • tenacity

    Etymology Old French tence adjectival noun meaning tenacity Latin tenacitas tigh

  • tenant

    Etymology Old French tenant Latin tenens present participle of tenere to hold

  • tend

    Etymology The word tend comes from the Middle English word tenden which in turn com

  • tendency

    Etymology The word tendency comes from the Latin word tendere which means to stretc

  • tender

    Etymology The word tender comes from the Old French verb tendre meaning to stretch

  • tender

    Etymology The word tender comes from the Old French verb tendre meaning to stretch

  • tendon

    Etymology The word tendon is derived from the Latin word tendo which means I stretc

  • tendril

    Etymology Middle English tendel from Anglo Norman French tendel from Vulgar Lati

  • tenement

    Etymology Tenement originates from the Latin word tenere meaning to hold or to p

  • tenesmus

    Etymology Tenesmus comes from the Greek word teinō meaning to strain or stretch an

  • tenet

    Etymology Latin teneō meaning to hold keep or possess Meaning A principle

  • tennis

    Etymology The word tennis is derived from the French word tenez which means hold o

  • tenon

    Etymology Latin tenuis thin slender Old French tenon Meaning A protruding

  • tenor

    Etymology The word tenor comes from the Latin word tenere meaning to hold Meanin

  • tense

    Etymology Old French tens Latin tempus time Meaning A form of a verb that in

  • tensile

    Etymology The word tensile is derived from the Latin word tensilis meaning able to

  • tension

    Etymology Latin tensio a stretching Proto Indo European ten to stretch Me

  • tensor

    Etymology The word tensor is derived from the Latin verb tendere which means to str

  • tent

    Etymology The word tent originates from the Old French word tente which itself comes

  • tenterhooks

    Etymology Tenter refers to a frame used in clothmaking to stretch and dry fabric whi

  • tenuous

    Etymology The word tenuous comes from the Latin word tenuis meaning thin slender or

  • tenure

    Etymology Latin tenura holding tenure possession Old French tenure holding Midd

  • tetanus

    Etymology Greek tetanos Latin tetanus Meaning A rigid involuntary contracti

  • thin

    Etymology The word thin is derived from the Old English word þynne which is itself

  • tone

    Etymology Origin Middle English toune from Old English tun meaning enclosed set

  • tonic

    Etymology The word tonic comes from the Latin word tonicus which means pertaining

  • chromatic

    Etymology The word chromatic comes from the Greek word khroma which means color T

  • octave

    Etymology The word octave originates from the Latin word octavus which means eight

  • change

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

  • flat

    Etymology Old English flaett level ground plain Proto Germanic flatą flat pl

  • shall

    Etymology Origin Old English sceal to owe be obliged from Proto Germanic skula

  • stigma

    Etymology Greek stigma στίγμα Latin stigma Meaning A mark of disgrac

  • debacle

    Etymology The word debacle is derived from the French word débâcle which literall

  • oath

    Etymology The word oath comes from the Old English word að which means oath Thi

  • specious

    Etymology The word specious has Latin roots deriving from the following speciōsus