(in musical theory, esp of classical Greece) any of several groups of four notes in descending order, in which the first and last notes form a perfect fourth
Derived forms
tetrachordal (ˌtetraˈchordal)
adjective
Word origin
C17: from Greek tetrakhordos four-stringed, from tetra- + khordē a string
tetrachord in American English
(ˈtɛtrəˌkɔrd)
noun
Music
a series of four tones contained in the interval of a perfect fourth
Derived forms
tetrachordal (ˌtetraˈchordal)
adjective
Word origin
Gr tetrachordon, musical instrument < tetrachordos, four-stringed: see tetra- & chord2