What is the historical time line of the diatonic and chromatic scales? (history pov)?

Question

I was wondering the **historical** **origin** of the diatonic/chromatic scale and how it ended up looking the way it does now in our equal temperament system. And whats the difference between chromatic and diatonic from a historical point of view? I've read that the chromatic scale is relatively **recent** but I've also read that the **ancient Greeks** used something called chromatic **tetra-chords** if I have not completely misunderstood. **I would love it if someone could give me an overview of historical events that led us to the diatonic/chromatic scale.**

Answer 1

Throughout history, in many cultures they use specific modes or scales. Most Western music (Greeks too) used the eight church modes. Most East Asian cultures use pentatonic scales, and the Russians love Phrygian minor. Most cultures in the Middle East and India use a 24 quarter-tone system, not a 12 tone system. So it is all relative to the culture. If you are thinking of the Western diatonic, seven note scales and key signatures that make up the circle of fifths; that's all Bach. The idea of this system was around the early 1600;s, but Bach really brought it to life and applicable.