See Also: tetrachord(dictionary)

tetrachord (iou)



tetrachord noun. E17.
[In sense 1 from Greek tetrakhordon, formed as TETRA- + khorde string (see CORD noun1). In sense 2 from TETRA- + CHORD noun1.]
Music.
Hist. An ancient musical instrument with four strings. E17.
A scale, usu. of four notes, spanning an interval of a fourth; spec. in ancient Greek music, each of the basic sets of four notes spanning a fourth which were combined in pairs or groups of three or four to form scales, adjacent sets having a note in common or being separated by a tone. Formerly also, the interval of a fourth. E17.