Diatonicism
/ˌdaɪ.əˈtɒn.ɪ.sɪz.əm/noun
The quality or practice of using notes that belong to a key or scale, especially in music theory.
Did you know?Diatonic comes from Greek diatonikos, from dia- (“through”) + tonos (“stretching, tension”), so the word originally points to a scale “running through” tones rather than a mystical spell.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
diatonikos
“Pertaining to a musical scale proceeding through tones”
Late Latin
Latin
diatonicus
“Borrowed scholarly term for the diatonic genus or scale”
Middle French
French
diatonique
“Musical, especially relating to notes of a scale”
17th Century
English
diatonic
“Relating to the notes of a scale in their normal succession”
19th Century
English
diatonicism
“The use or character of diatonic harmony or melody”