What does chordal mean?
"Chordal" is an adjective used primarily in music theory to describe anything relating to or constructed from chords. A chordal texture is one in which notes sound together as harmonies, as opposed to a polyphonic or contrapuntal texture where independent melodic lines interweave; a chordal accompaniment supports a melody with blocks of harmony. The word appears frequently in analytical writing about composers and styles — one might describe Brahms's writing as thickly chordal or a hymn setting as homophonic and chordal. In mathematics, chordal has a separate technical sense relating to the chord of a curve or circle, though this usage is confined to specialized contexts. Derived ultimately from the Greek word for a string, it shares deep roots with words like "accord" and "concord." Because of its similarity to "choral," writers should take care not to confuse the two.
adjectiveRelating to, consisting of, or characteristic of musical chords; in mathematics, relating to a chord of a curve or figure. In music, it describes a texture built from chords rather than independent melodic lines.
- (Music) Relating to or composed of chords; characterized by harmonic rather than linear or melodic structure.
- (Mathematics) Relating to a chord of a circle, curve, or other geometric figure.
"The piece moves from sparse linear passages into richly chordal writing."
"The composer shifted from contrapuntal complexity to a simple chordal style."
"In projective geometry, the chordal distance between two points can be defined using the circle's chord."
The same Greek root that gives us "chordal" — khorde, meaning gut string — also gave us "cord," since early instrument strings really were made from animal gut.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of chordal
Chordal derives from "chord," which traces back through Latin chorda ("string of a musical instrument") to the Greek khordē, originally referring to strings made from animal gut. The adjective formed in English with the suffix -al, following the regular pattern for deriving relational adjectives from nouns. It shares this ancient string-related root with words such as "accord," "concord," "accordion," and "cord."
Related word forms
How chordal is actually used
"Chordal" belongs chiefly to technical and academic registers — music theory, analysis, and mathematics — and is rare in everyday conversation. It most often modifies nouns like texture, harmony, writing, and accompaniment.
Easily confused with chordal
"Choral" means relating to a choir or sung by voices, while "chordal" means relating to chords or harmonies.