diatonic
adjective
dia·ton·ic
ˌdī-ə-ˈtä-nik 
: of, relating to, or being a musical scale (such as a major or minor scale) comprising intervals of five whole steps and two half steps
Examples of diatonic in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The emotional arc of the work is reflected in its diatonic, neoclassical beginning, becoming more chromatic, with the Middle Passage represented by a genuine 12-tone row, giving way to the lilting tonal hymn of the final section.
—
Christian Hertzog, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Nov. 2023
Messina is also credited with creating the Interval Study Method, a playing technique using diatonic and chromatic scales.
—Gary Graff, Billboard, 5 Apr. 2022
Today, the two types of marimba used in Guatemala are the single marimba, with one row of diatonic keys like the white keys of the piano, and the double marimba, which adds a row of chromatic keys (the black keys).
—Los Angeles Times, 25 June 2021
The musical language is steeped in older modal scales, however crucial passages and final phrases settle into diatonic harmony (major and minor chords), the newer language that was emerging in Schütz’s time.
—New York Times, 20 Mar. 2020
Elements of atonality and sturdy diatonic harmony and moments of fleeting lyricism and blazing sonorities often merge or clash.
—New York Times, 23 Sep. 2019
Instead, Gaxiola devotes to the tuba for the bass notes, and in combination with a twelve-fret guitar, a diatonic accordion and drums, the group has become one of the vanguards of the genre.
—Pamela Bustios, Billboard, 30 Aug. 2019
Others had dreamed up the piano, diatonic tonality, and the 12-bar blues riff.
—Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 28 June 2018
There are musical instruments—like Louisiana’s diatonic accordion.
—Erin Blakemore, Smithsonian, 16 Mar. 2017
Christian Hertzog, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Nov. 2023
Messina is also credited with creating the Interval Study Method, a playing technique using diatonic and chromatic scales.
—Gary Graff, Billboard, 5 Apr. 2022
Today, the two types of marimba used in Guatemala are the single marimba, with one row of diatonic keys like the white keys of the piano, and the double marimba, which adds a row of chromatic keys (the black keys).
—Los Angeles Times, 25 June 2021
The musical language is steeped in older modal scales, however crucial passages and final phrases settle into diatonic harmony (major and minor chords), the newer language that was emerging in Schütz’s time.
—New York Times, 20 Mar. 2020
Elements of atonality and sturdy diatonic harmony and moments of fleeting lyricism and blazing sonorities often merge or clash.
—New York Times, 23 Sep. 2019
Instead, Gaxiola devotes to the tuba for the bass notes, and in combination with a twelve-fret guitar, a diatonic accordion and drums, the group has become one of the vanguards of the genre.
—Pamela Bustios, Billboard, 30 Aug. 2019
Others had dreamed up the piano, diatonic tonality, and the 12-bar blues riff.
—Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 28 June 2018
There are musical instruments—like Louisiana’s diatonic accordion.
—Erin Blakemore, Smithsonian, 16 Mar. 2017
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'diatonic.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near diatonic
Cite this Entry
“Diatonic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/diatonic. Accessed 30 Oct. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
diatonic
adjective
dia·ton·ic
ˌdī-ə-ˈtän-ik
: relating to or being a standard major or minor scale of eight tones to the octave
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