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Glossary Music / Term

Chromaticism

The use of accidental notes outside the prevailing diatonic key either for special effects (emotionally intense parts; colour-modification of diatonicism) or for modulation. The augmented sixths (augmented triad=affecting chord), the Neapolitan sixth and the supertonic chromatic chords are examples. The chromatic or diatonic character of a ‘foreign’ note is conditioned by harmonic considerations like: in the progression C-E-F#-G, the note F# is chromatic if the harmony stays on C, diatonic if it modulates to G.

Permanent link Chromaticism - Creation date 2021-12-31


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