Diatonic
Belonging to, or derived from, the notes of a particular key without any added outside notes.
Diatonic means inside the key: a diatonic chord is built only from the notes of the scale, and a diatonic melody never leaves it. The seven diatonic chords of a major key are formed by stacking thirds on each degree, which produces the familiar sequence of three major, three minor and one diminished chord. Anything outside that set, such as a borrowed chord or a chromatic passing note, is described as non-diatonic, and recognising the difference explains why some progressions sound smooth and others surprising.
Example: In the key of C major, the chords C, D minor, E minor, F, G and A minor are all diatonic.
See also
Related
- PageMajor scale
- PageKey
- PageHarmonised scale
- PageAugmented chord
- PageBlue note
- PageBlues scale
- PageAaron Dessner
- PageAce Frehley