tetrachord

tetrachord, musical scale of four notes, bounded by the interval of a perfect fourth (an interval the size of two and one-half steps, e.g., c–f).

Why Study Tetrachords? While complete scales allow us to see the full harmonic picture, chords and arpeggios allow us to think in terms of harmony. Tetrachords fall somewhere in the middle, allowing us to see and visualize melodic fragments while zooming in closer than the perspective of a scale.

Tetrachords: a fancy name for a four note scale. These simple little scales can do wonders for your violin technique. They are great warm-ups and if you find yourself strapped for time, I would skip the scales and focus on tetrachords.

diatonic, in music, any stepwise arrangement of the seven “natural” pitches (scale degrees) forming an octave without altering the established pattern of a key or mode - in particular, the major and natural minor scales.

(The term "tetrachord" comes from Greek musical theory; the Greeks recognized three types of tetrachords in which the outer notes were a perfect fourth and the middle two voices varied. But their tuning system was something we can only approximate; it's highly unlikely that their music sounded much like ours, anyway.

A major tetrachord is built of a whole step, followed by another whole step, followed by a half step. Two major tetrachords placed in succession forms a major scale. For example, in C major, Tetrachord I is built with the notes C, D, E, and F.

Their tetrachord types were diatonic, enharmonic and chromatic, FYI.) By combining tetrachords, we can produce scales. Take a major tetrachord on C (C D E F) and a major tetrachord on G (G A B C); stick 'em end to end and you get a C major scale (C D E F G A B C).

The names of the seven modes are: Ionian, Dorian, Phrygian, Lydian, Mixolydian, Aeolian, and Locrian.

And then up here we have g a b c. Now let's notice some things about these tetrachords. You'll notice that the top two notes of this tetrachord. Form the half. Step same thing with this tetrachord.

The use of diatonic scales dates back to Ancient Greece, where it was one of three standard tunings, along with chromatic and enharmonic (the term “diatonic” means “through tones''), each based around a sequence of four notes called a tetrachord.

chromaticism, (from Greek chroma, “colour”) in music, the use of notes foreign to the mode or diatonic scale upon which a composition is based.

Their tetrachord types were diatonic, enharmonic and chromatic, FYI.) By combining tetrachords, we can produce scales. Take a major tetrachord on C (C D E F) and a major tetrachord on G (G A B C); stick 'em end to end and you get a C major scale (C D E F G A B C).