Erakordsetest

Erakordsetest is a term used in Estonian music theory to describe a collection of chords that depart from strict diatonic harmony within a tonal context. It is typically applied to chords that bring color, tension, or non-diatonic functions into a progression, including altered dominants, borrowed chords from parallel keys, chromatic mediants, and extended harmonies beyond triads. The exact scope of the category varies by author, but it is generally used to signal harmonic devices that stand outside the standard diatonic system without adopting a new key.

The etymology suggests "erakord" meaning a "special" or "unusual chord" and the suffix "-setest" indicating a set or collection, though formal etymological documentation is limited. In analysis, erakordsetest is often discussed as a qualitative label rather than a rigid formal class, emphasizing coloristic effects over strict functional harmony.

Because the term lacks a single universally accepted definition, it is used primarily in Estonian-language texts and among theorists who focus on harmonic texture in contemporary or experimental repertoire. It serves as a practical shorthand for analysts describing chords that do not conform to the diatonic key center but are not treated as a stable pivot to a new key.

Related topics include harmony, chromaticism, borrowed chords, and extended chords. For further reading, consult Estonian music theory resources dealing with non-diatonic harmony and coloristic harmony practice.