What Does Diatonic Mean?

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What Does Diatonic Mean?

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Answer 1

Diatonic is a musical term based on the major and minor standard scales which consist of two semi tones and five tones without any accidental modulations. It is the opposite of chromatic. When referring to western music it refers to the use of the two semitones and five tones of the minor and major scales in western music.

The word comes to us from the Latin "diatonicus" which is from the Greek "diatonikos".

A diatonic scale consists of seven intervals between eight sounds, of these five are whole tones where as two are semitones. It is distinguished and different from the Chromatic scale.

With reference to music theory, diatonic scale is known as the "heptatonia prima". They form the foundation of musical tradition in Europe.

It is claimed that diatonic scales could have a history of over forty five thousand years.

Answer 2

Ok its so much simpler than that.
Diatonic is when a piece of music is all written In one scale.

Just the cords found in the notes abcedfg this is the a minor scale. The c maj scale is cdefgabc. Oops there the same notes. Lol there suppose to be. Its quite fun. This is qite a strange phenomena. Most music will be diatonic.

If you want to get in depth continue on. That is diatonic though. One key one scale.

Thus no modulation is happining in diotinic music. You can however still change cords and progressions. In fact diatonic music is the most common and easiest to write because all of the cord progressions as far as maj min aug dim and seventh cords are all found in one scale. There is a good rule for this use every other note to build your cords. Try these progressions baggage deaf caged face. All notes of the c maj of a min scale. They are the same thing! This is known as relitave major and minor. They are the same notes with a different emphasis.It is much easer to use the c locrian mode for example Every white key or no sharps of flats there are 7 semi tones in most scales (except jazz and pentatonic scales penta means 5 like the 5 sided pentagon and the "jazz" scales are mostly these scales with cromotic steps included. Both are difficult to write music with)

Ok I tried to be simple sorry. Remember this:
Choose a scale, play a 1 4 5 progression where all those notes are found in that ONE scale and that ONE key now you have a diotonic song. Any of the notes in that scale will work for soloing purposes.

This is not diationic yet stil simple
NOw it gets really cool you can take one scale and find a cord you like. JUst one .
Ok now find a NEW scale and find a cord that sounds good with the previous cord. Got it? Cool. NOw each cord will go or harmonize with the scale that the scale itself gave you. JUst use a scale that the cord you want to play can be found in. Many times these scales will have things cords and notes "in common" look for these and abuse the hell out of them (espically when changing cords) as you will then step out of the diatinic bro. Often times cromatic steps create a strange dissonance the we we we we sound thats herd by only the trained ear. Sound texture.

In other words scales and cords go together. LOL NO really though each scale is consistant of different semi tones. These semi tones build the cords and scales. The other notes make the textures. Some happy some sad all unique to themselfs. Even quarter steps only found in eastern music.

I learned from a dr of music who graduated from florida state and I study joe stump. This is my theory. There are exceptions to just about every rule. So..... Have fun!