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GreySatyr
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Chromatic VS Diatonic Instruments
#19250450 - 12/09/13 02:36 PM (10 years, 1 month ago) |
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Im trying to learn about music theory and a variety of musical instruments. So this is probably are really stupid beginner question but I feel as if its an important question to ask and understand. So what is the difference of a fully chromatic instrument an a diatonic one? What are the pros and cons of each? I have a simple underatanding of chromatic and diatonic but I want a more acquired intelligence on the subject.
Also...
I want to as many examples of chromatic instruments and as many examples of diatonic instruments as possible, please? I believe I know of the obvious ones but I'm unsure of others...
From my limited understanding I am assuming a diatonic is simply an instrument that doesn't play flats or sharps but someone's told me that explanation doesn't encompass the whole gist of it.
Obviously I know that a piano, guitar and a pedal harp are fully chromatic but what are some other examples and examples of diatonic instruments, please?
I also have one other not as important question, as a single instrument not in an ensemble, what instruments play normally chords besides guitar, piano and harp? Is it only string that's typically play chords or are there any other instruments that play them?
I realize that on a lot of string instruments that it is possible to play chords but that it's never really done except with the obvious stated above...
Sorry for being ignorant on the topic of music and instruments, guys. Haha.
-------------------- ...also, go to hell, huh?
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psi
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Re: Chromatic VS Diatonic Instruments [Re: GreySatyr]
#19250519 - 12/09/13 02:50 PM (10 years, 1 month ago) |
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I don't think the two are mutually exclusive. Harmonica and diatonic button accordion (e.g. cajun style one row accordion) are both based around the diatonic scale. One air direction gives the notes of the tonic triad repeating every 3 positions, and the other air direction gives the other 4 notes of the scale repeating every 4 positions. If you add another diatonic scale separated by a semitone though, you get a full chromatic scale. The B/C diatonic accordion used commonly in Irish music is fully chromatic. Chromatic harmonicas use a similar system where a lever is used to select between the two scales.
With piano the diatonic scale is also "built in" (the white keys are a C major scale) but I don't know if anyone describes it as a diatonic instrument.
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Me_Roy
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Re: Chromatic VS Diatonic Instruments [Re: GreySatyr]
#19250520 - 12/09/13 02:51 PM (10 years, 1 month ago) |
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I believe that harmonicas are diatonic. That's why the big feller from Blues Traveler needs so many pockets.
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JohnnieYen
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Re: Chromatic VS Diatonic Instruments [Re: Me_Roy]
#19250548 - 12/09/13 03:01 PM (10 years, 1 month ago) |
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they make both chromatic and diatonic harmonicas
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GreySatyr
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Re: Chromatic VS Diatonic Instruments [Re: JohnnieYen]
#19250567 - 12/09/13 03:05 PM (10 years, 1 month ago) |
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Quote:
JohnnieYen said: they make both chromatic and diatonic harmonicas
Now if we could only figure out what makes an instrument diatonic.
-------------------- ...also, go to hell, huh?
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Khii Khwaay
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Re: Chromatic VS Diatonic Instruments [Re: GreySatyr]
#19250587 - 12/09/13 03:09 PM (10 years, 1 month ago) |
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Notes are a full tone apart on a normal harp (harmonica), and a semitone apart on a chromatic harp.
You've got to bend notes to get the full chromatic scale on a regular harp.
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JohnnieYen
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Re: Chromatic VS Diatonic Instruments [Re: GreySatyr]
#19250590 - 12/09/13 03:10 PM (10 years, 1 month ago) |
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Quote:
GreyMorph said:
Quote:
JohnnieYen said: they make both chromatic and diatonic harmonicas
Now if we could only figure out what makes an instrument diatonic.

without the slide it would be diatonic
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GreySatyr
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Re: Chromatic VS Diatonic Instruments [Re: JohnnieYen]
#19250679 - 12/09/13 03:25 PM (10 years, 1 month ago) |
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How does that translate to something like an penny whistle?
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The Vapor
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Re: Chromatic VS Diatonic Instruments [Re: psi]
#19250708 - 12/09/13 03:28 PM (10 years, 1 month ago) |
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Quote:
psi said: I don't think the two are mutually exclusive. Harmonica and diatonic button accordion (e.g. cajun style one row accordion) are both based around the diatonic scale. One air direction gives the notes of the tonic triad repeating every 3 positions, and the other air direction gives the other 4 notes of the scale repeating every 4 positions. If you add another diatonic scale separated by a semitone though, you get a full chromatic scale. The B/C diatonic accordion used commonly in Irish music is fully chromatic. Chromatic harmonicas use a similar system where a lever is used to select between the two scales.
With piano the diatonic scale is also "built in" (the white keys are a C major scale) but I don't know if anyone describes it as a diatonic instrument.
I think pianos are both, as both sets of keys (black and white) make it chromatic, whereas using just the white keys makes it diatonic. I'm not sure if you can break it up like that, but oh well lol.
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psi
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Re: Chromatic VS Diatonic Instruments [Re: GreySatyr]
#19250747 - 12/09/13 03:34 PM (10 years, 1 month ago) |
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Quote:
GreyMorph said:
Quote:
JohnnieYen said: they make both chromatic and diatonic harmonicas
Now if we could only figure out what makes an instrument diatonic.
The diatonic scale is the one commonly used in Western music. Diatonic harmonicas and accordions are named in that way because they are based around that scale. I'm not sure whether any unrelated instruments are referred to as diatonic instruments though, even if they are based on a diatonic scale and can only play the notes of a single key.
Quote:
The Vapor said: I think pianos are both, as both sets of keys (black and white) make it chromatic, whereas using just the white keys makes it diatonic. I'm not sure if you can break it up like that, but oh well lol.
Yeah I think an instrument can be both but I'm not sure whether pianos are referred to as "diatonic instruments" by anyone. Diatonic is an organizational scheme, and chromatic describes whether or not all notes from the chromatic scale are playable.
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GreySatyr
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Re: Chromatic VS Diatonic Instruments [Re: psi]
#19250768 - 12/09/13 03:38 PM (10 years, 1 month ago) |
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Not grasping any of it. Fuck it.
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JohnnieYen
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Re: Chromatic VS Diatonic Instruments [Re: GreySatyr]
#19250789 - 12/09/13 03:41 PM (10 years, 1 month ago) |
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psi
TOAST N' JAM


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Re: Chromatic VS Diatonic Instruments [Re: GreySatyr]
#19250848 - 12/09/13 03:53 PM (10 years, 1 month ago) |
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Quote:
GreyMorph said: Not grasping any of it. Fuck it.
A chromatic instrument can play all notes including sharps and flats. A diatonic instrument is organized based on the Western diatonic scale (e.g. C major,) and may or not be chromatic. If you combine e.g. the scales of B and C, all the gaps are filled and you get a full chromatic range. An instrument with diatonic organization (like a harmonica or accordion) may or may not be fully chromatic. A C button accordion is not, but a B/C accordion is.
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The Vapor
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Re: Chromatic VS Diatonic Instruments [Re: psi]
#19250856 - 12/09/13 03:55 PM (10 years, 1 month ago) |
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Quote:
psi said:
Quote:
GreyMorph said:
Quote:
JohnnieYen said: they make both chromatic and diatonic harmonicas
Now if we could only figure out what makes an instrument diatonic.
The diatonic scale is the one commonly used in Western music. Diatonic harmonicas and accordions are named in that way because they are based around that scale. I'm not sure whether any unrelated instruments are referred to as diatonic instruments though, even if they are based on a diatonic scale and can only play the notes of a single key.
Quote:
The Vapor said: I think pianos are both, as both sets of keys (black and white) make it chromatic, whereas using just the white keys makes it diatonic. I'm not sure if you can break it up like that, but oh well lol.
Yeah I think an instrument can be both but I'm not sure whether pianos are referred to as "diatonic instruments" by anyone. Diatonic is an organizational scheme, and chromatic describes whether or not all notes from the chromatic scale are playable.
Yeah pianos are for sure chromatic. I think some of the difference also comes in with the tuning of the instruments.
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psi
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Re: Chromatic VS Diatonic Instruments [Re: The Vapor]
#19250910 - 12/09/13 04:03 PM (10 years, 1 month ago) |
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Yeah I think a chromatic instrument typically is tuned in equal temperament, where a semitone is always a ratio of 1:(2^(1/12)). With an instrument that can only play in one key you can use just intonation, where the ratios work out to exact whole number ratios instead of irrational approximations. Just intonation sounds better, but equal temperament sacrifices that for versatility.
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The Vapor
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Re: Chromatic VS Diatonic Instruments [Re: psi]
#19250937 - 12/09/13 04:07 PM (10 years, 1 month ago) |
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You sure know a lot about music kenny rogers. Far more than I would have assumed.
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Edited by The Vapor (12/09/13 04:07 PM)
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psi
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Re: Chromatic VS Diatonic Instruments [Re: The Vapor]
#19250966 - 12/09/13 04:12 PM (10 years, 1 month ago) |
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I'll let you in on a secret, I'm not really Kenny Rogers.
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The Vapor
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Registered: 03/22/10
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Re: Chromatic VS Diatonic Instruments [Re: psi]
#19250995 - 12/09/13 04:16 PM (10 years, 1 month ago) |
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Damn, thought I was talking to the real thing for a second there.
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JohnnieYen
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Re: Chromatic VS Diatonic Instruments [Re: psi]
#19251008 - 12/09/13 04:18 PM (10 years, 1 month ago) |
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Quote:
psi said:

I'll let you in on a secret, I'm not really Kenny Rogers.

fuck, even Kenny Rogers isn't Kenny Rogers anymore...
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psi
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Registered: 09/05/99
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Re: Chromatic VS Diatonic Instruments [Re: JohnnieYen]
#19251031 - 12/09/13 04:22 PM (10 years, 1 month ago) |
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Yeah he looks pretty weird after that eye lift or botox or whatever the fuck he did. Kinda wrecks the whole rugged look.
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