

#Chromatic music definition update#
Last update on 7 Printing for premium user only ! of or relating to the chromatic scale or an instrument capable of producing it: a chromatic harmonica. involving the sharpening or flattening of notes or the use of such notes in chords and harmonic progressions b. Moreover, at the theoretical level, their differentiation is essential because it allows to understand many concepts such as the construction of scales or the qualification of the intervals, which is why, whatever the temperament used, it is important to be familiar with the concepts mentioned in this chapter. The chromatic scale or twelve-tone scale is a musical scale with twelve pitches, each a semitone, also known. (Colours) of, relating to, or characterized by a colour or colours 2. However, some contexts (eg for string instruments) need to take into account the difference between chromatic and diatonic semitones. Since the appearance of the equal temperament, it is possible to play in any key on a keyboard instrument. Russian music of Tchaikovsky through Rachmaninoff, or in Grieg or Faur or. This technique allows, with a small concession to accuracy, to greatly simplify the tuning of keyboard instruments, which previously were tuned according to the key signature of the work that was to be interpreted. So we need to define the signification of accidental signs and chromatic. A tone is no longer divided into 4 + 5 commas but 4.5 + 4.5 commas. involving a modification of the normal scale by the use of accidentals. These semitones, whether diatonic or chromatic have the same pitch difference in the ear. The octave is divided into twelve equal semitones. Since the XVII th century, Western music has adopted the system of equal temperament. adjective Relating to chords or harmonies based on nonharmonic tones. Since a tone itself consists of a chromatic semitone and a diatonic semitone, the octave is thus formed of 12 semitones, of which 5 chromatic semitones and 7 diatonic semitones. For example, between two Cs, there is an octave.Īn octave is thus formed by 5 tones and 2 diatonic semitones (see Figure 1 at the beginning of the course). The octave is the smallest interval that separates two notes with the same name.
