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Glite Dictionary
trichord

trichord

9.8
A group of three musical notes or a musical instrument with three strings
  • noun
  • /ˈtraɪˌkɔrd/
  • Specialized
translation icon : tríada
  • The student learned to play a trichord on the guitar, using only three strings.

Examples

  • Species of Trichords in C Major: The teacher plays or sings trichords, first in the C-major scale, then in other keys, asking the students to identify the species.

    Academic text (2011)

  • The species 1 trichord exercises described here allow students to explore the keys of C, F, and G major.

    Academic text (2011)

  • The general procedure for these trichord melodies is as follows: Sing melody on a neutral syllable. Sing melody with numbers.

    Academic text (2011)

  • Once all three possibilities for the species 1 trichord have been introduced, students can improvise melodies beginning DRM, but without identifying for the class what they intend.

    Academic text (2011)

  • A trichord consists of three notes played together to create harmony.

  • In music theory, a trichord can represent the intervallic relationships between three different pitches.

Synonyms

chord
vstrichord
96 3.2

A group of three or more notes that sound good together

is limited to exactly three notes or to a three string instrument
trinary
vstrichord
1 7.4

A group of three people or things

is used only for musical three note groups or three string instruments

Surface Forms

trichord singular
trichords plural

Morphology

trichord = chord (transparent) = tri + chord

Direct composition of 'tri' (three) + 'chord' yields the meaning 'three-note chord' or 'three-string instrument', which is straightforward for learners familiar with both elements.

Etymology

The word trichord comes from tri- 'three' and chord 'string', and chord is the same word you use in music for a group of notes. So a trichord is literally three strings or, in music, a group of three notes.