hexachord

[ hek-suh-kawrd ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

, Music.

a diatonic series of six tones having, in medieval music, a half step between the third and fourth tones and whole steps between the others.

hexachord

/ ˈhɛksəˌkɔːd /

(in medieval musical theory) any of three diatonic scales based upon C, F, and G, each consisting of six notes, from which solmization was developed

First recorded in 1685–95, hexachord is from the Late Greek word hexáchordos having six strings. See hexa-, chord ¹

Just as in mediæval times each hexachord commenced with ut, so now every octave of our tonal system commences with do.

For the fourth hexachord, which was called hard, this B was again raised a semitone.

Hexachord, hek′sa-kord, n. a diatonic series of six notes, having a semitone between the third and fourth.

Solmisation of the six notes of the Hexachord, 11th century, see p. 37.

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