It’s easier to understand the concept of the tetrachord on a string instrument like the violin. Therefore permit me to use the violin as a reference.<\/p>\n
If you’ve been privileged to stand close to a violinist, you’ll observe that while they’re playing the major scale, they play four notes to a string. So for the entire major scale (let’s say the C major scale):
\n
\nThey’ll play the first four notes (which are C, D, E, and F):
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\n…on a string, and the last four notes (which are G, A, B, and C):
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\n…on another string.<\/p>\n
The term tetrachord is derived from the approach to scale playing where four notes (tetra) are played to a string (chord). So, the term tetrachord<\/em> literally means “four notes to a string”.<\/p>\n On the keyboard, the C major scale (which consists of eight notes): The lower tetrachord (first four notes): The tetrachord can be understood and transposed using a knowledge of the distance between the four notes within its compass. Using the lower tetrachord of the C major scale (C, D, E, and F): “Check It Out…”<\/em><\/p>\n From C to D: From D to E: From E to F: Using the breakdown above, here’s the intervallic formula for the tetrachord:<\/p>\n Whole – Whole – Half<\/p><\/blockquote>\n …or:<\/p>\n W – W- H<\/p><\/blockquote>\n …which you can recall using the mnemonic “why won’t he”<\/em><\/p>\n Using the “W – W- H” formula, the tetrachord can be formed starting on any note.<\/p>\n Attention:<\/strong> To learn more about this, I recommend our 500+ page course: The “Official Guide To Piano Playing.”<\/strong> [thrive_2step id=’18141′]Click here for more information.<\/span>[\/thrive_2step]<\/p>\n Starting from G: Starting from Bb: Starting from D: C tetrachord: Attention:<\/strong> To learn more about this, I recommend our 500+ page course: The “Official Guide To Piano Playing.”<\/strong> [thrive_2step id=’18141′]Click here for more information.<\/span>[\/thrive_2step]<\/p>\n G tetrachord: The tetrachord is one off the secret concepts that beginners can rely on while learning how to play scales.<\/p>\n Now that we’re done with the introductory lesson, we’ll be delving into how tetrachords can be used to master scales in a subsequent lesson.<\/p>\n Keep up the great work.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" At last, the question “what is a tetrachord” has been answered in this lesson.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":22445,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[252,9,229],"tags":[17,1065,1425,1056],"class_list":["post-18437","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-beginners","category-piano","category-scales-theory-piano","tag-basic-songs","tag-major-tetrachords","tag-tetrachord","tag-tetrachords","post-wrapper","thrv_wrapper"],"yoast_head":"\n
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\n…can be divided into two tetrachords:<\/p>\n
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\nThe upper tetrachord (last four notes):
\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
An Intervallic Breakdown Of The Tetrachord<\/h2>\n
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\n…the interval between the notes of a tetrachord can be understood.<\/p>\n
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\n…is a whole step.<\/p>\n
\n
\n…is a whole step.<\/p>\n
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\n…is a half step.<\/p><\/blockquote>\nThe G Tetrachord<\/h3>\n
\n
\n…we’ll go up by a whole step (to A):
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\n…another whole step from A to B:
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\nLastly, we’ll go up by a half step from B to C:
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\nAltogether, here’s the G tetrachord:<\/p>\nThe Bb Tetrachord<\/h3>\n
\n
\n…we’ll go up by a whole step (to C):
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\n…another whole step from C to D:
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\nLastly, we’ll go up by a half step from D to Eb:
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\nAltogether, here’s the Bb tetrachord:
\n<\/p>\n
The D Tetrachord<\/h3>\n
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\n…we’ll go up by a whole step (to E):
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\n…another whole step from E to F#:
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\nLastly, we’ll go up by a half step from F# to G:
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\nAltogether, here’s the D tetrachord:
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\n“For Your Reference, Here Are All The Tetrachords On The Keyboard…”<\/em><\/p>\n
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\nDb tetrachord:
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\nD tetrachord:
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\nEb tetrachord:
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\nE tetrachord:
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\nF tetrachord:
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\nF# tetrachord:
\n<\/p>\n
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\nAb tetrachord:
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\nA tetrachord:
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\nBb tetrachord:
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\nB tetrachord:
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\nAttention:<\/strong> That’s 12 tetrachord examples on the keyboard and it is recommended that you learn and master them.<\/p>\nFinal Words<\/h2>\n