Topmusicanswers
- What is the use of non diatonic chords?
- How do you use non diatonic notes?
- What are diatonic chords used for?
- What are non diatonic scales?
What is the use of non diatonic chords?
Non-diatonic chords are often used as passing chords. In its most basic form this may simply be a chord that is one fret above or below a diatonic chord. This gives a temporary 'wrong' sound with an unexpected twist that's quickly resolved when the next diatonic chord is heard.
How do you use non diatonic notes?
The best way to add non-diatonic chords to a chord progression is by using a common note from the diatonic chord into the non-diatonic chord, which smoothes an otherwise abrupt change. That's what happens in the Fmaj → Dmaj, where the common note is A.
What are diatonic chords used for?
Diatonic chords are the chords that are derived from the notes of a key. You should think of diatonic chords as a family of chords all tied to one another by the notes of a key. They all sort of share the same gene pool. We've established that each key contains seven different notes.
What are non diatonic scales?
Non diatonic scales
- Harmonic minor scale – As they don't have two semitones and five tones.
- Chromatic scales – As they have more than seven notes all of which are semitones apart.
- Whole tone scales – As they have six notes all of which are tones apart.
- Pentatonic scales – As they have five notes with no semitone intervals.
