🤒 Every other day 🎶 Based on thirds

tertian

9.9

Relating to music harmony built from stacks of notes a third apart, like major thirds

adjective
/ˈtɜrʃən/

Specialized

: terciana

The composer is known for his tertian approach, building harmonies from stacks of major thirds.

Examples

Many twentieth-century works experiment with tertian and quartal harmonic systems.
Many composers use tertian chords in their works.
A tertian structure can give the music a unique and modern sound.
The tertian harmony creates a rich sound.
The composer is known for his tertian approach, building harmonies from stacks of major thirds.
Many twentieth-century works experiment with tertian and quartal harmonic systems.
A tertian structure can give the music a unique and modern sound.

Synonyms

triadic

vstertian

Specialized

1 7.3

About music that uses three-note chords

is about harmony built by stacking thirds rather than only the three note chord shape

Surface Forms

tertian positive

Morphology

tertian = third (semi-transparent) = terti + an

Denotes relation to 'third', but uses the Latin combining form 'terti-' rather than the modern word 'third' and appears as a specialized musical term, so learners may not immediately recognise the connection.

Etymology

Tertian comes from the Latin root tertius, meaning 'third'. In music it refers to harmony made by putting together 'third' steps, so tertian chords are built by stacking those 'thirds'.