notes that occur naturally in a scale, without being modified by accidentals other than those in the relevant key signature
Diatonic
Related Dictionary Terms
Diatonic scale
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any scale of the major, natural minor, melodic minor or harmonic minor scales based on a particular key note
Disjunct
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where the notes in a melody move in leaps, intervals greater than a tone, rather than from note to neighbouring notes only a…
Key Center
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Theory
A key center organizes harmonic tension and release around a tonic. Identifying key center helps performers shape phrasing, c…
Key signature
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an arrangement of sharps or flats placed on the far left hand side of each line of the staff, indicating scale of the piece S…
Signature
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signs placed on the clef to mark the number and position of the sharps or flats in the key in which the piece is being writte…
Time Signature
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A symbol placed at the left side of the staff indicating the meter of the composition. See time signature in Elements of a Mu…
Accidental
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sign for raising, lowering the pitch of a note or of canceling a previously applied sign, the sharp and flat signs in a key s…
Accidentals
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Notation
Accidentals are symbols placed before notes: sharp ( ) raises a pitch flat ( ) lowers a pitch natural cancels previous altera…