hexachord

American  

[hek-suh-kawrd] / ˈhɛk səˌkɔrd /

noun

Music.

1. a diatonic series of six tones having, in medieval music, a half step between the third and fourth tones and whole steps between the others.

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hexachord British  

/ ˈhɛksəˌkɔːd /

noun

1. (in medieval musical theory) any of three diatonic scales based upon C, F, and G, each consisting of six notes, from which solmization was developed

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Etymology

Origin of hexachord

First recorded in 1685–95, hexachord is from the Late Greek word hexáchordos having six strings. See hexa-, chord ¹