chord
KORD
/kɔːd/
A group of three or more notes sounded simultaneously as a foundational unit of harmony.
Refers to a specific vertical stacking of pitches struck or played at the same moment.
The story behind the word. Originates as a 16th-century shortening of 'accord', from Old French 'acord' (agreement). The spelling was later modified to 'chord' by connection to Greek 'chorde' (instrument string).
Word relationships
- triad: A triad is specifically a three-note chord built on stacked thirds, whereas chord is any multi-note combination.
- harmony: Harmony is the overarching system of simultaneous sounds, while a chord is a single specific note cluster.
- monophony: Monophony consists of an unharmonized single melodic line without stacked chords.
Commonly confused with
- cord: A cord is a string or flexible cable; a chord is a combination of musical notes.
Word family
- chordal (adjective): Consisting of or relating to musical chords.
Collocations
- strike a chord
- major chord
- chord progression
Idioms & expressions
- strike a chord
Example sentences
- "She pressed her fingers firmly on the guitar fretboard to strike a clear C-major chord." Instrumental instruction
Memory hook
Hit three keys in Accord to make a CHORD. Stacked notes sounded at once.
When not to use
Do not confuse with 'cord' (a rope, wire, or string structure).
Fun facts
- The iconic opening chord of The Beatles' 'A Hard Day's Night' took decades of sound spectrum analysis for musicologists to transcribe perfectly.
Related words
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