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1.85 diatonic scale

ES: escala diatónica, I: scala diatonica, F: gamme diatonique, D: diatonische Tonleiter, NL: diatonische toonladder, DK: diatonisk skala, S: diatonisk skala, FI: diatoninen asteikko.

A scale consisting of 5 whole tones and 2 semitones (S). Scales played on the white keys of a piano keyboard are diatonic. These scales are sometimes called, somewhat inaccurately, ‘church modes’).

These modes are used in Gregorian chant and in pre-baroque early music but also to some extent in newer jazz music.

From the beginning of the 17th century the scales used in European compositional music are primarily the major and the minor scales. In the harmonic minor scale type an augmented second (A) occurs between the 6th and 7th tone.

See also

semitone, whole tone.