Hexachord
/ˈhɛk.sə.kɔːrd/noun
A six-note musical scale or a sequence of six notes used in medieval music theory.
Did you know?Hexachord comes from Greek roots meaning “six” + “string,” and medieval theorists used it as a mental map for singing, turning music theory into a kind of sacred, rule-bound enchantment.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
hexachordon
“a six-stringed instrument or six-string grouping”
Late Latin
Latin
hexachordum
“a six-stringed instrument or six-note musical unit”
Medieval Latin
Latin
hexachordum
“a six-note scale system used in music theory”
14th Century
English
hexachord
“a six-note musical scale or note-group used in chant and theory”
Modern English
English
hexachord
“a six-note scale or sequence in historical music theory”