New Puzzle: Finding the Right Chord
This puzzle is made up of 15 random and/or impossible words listed by word length. Your task is to change each of those entries so they match the clues provided. To do that you must replace three consecutive letters in the word with the right three notes.
We have listed a number of chords with letters that might appear in any word or phrase. Chords such as BDF and GBD are unsuited to our scheme, as are flats and sharps, so they have been discounted. But there are still many chords remaining: major and minor triads, augmented and diminished chords, implied sixth, seventh and ninth chords, diatonic and chromatic chords and some partial clusters – all of them 3-note combinations from C to B appearing in contemporary composition.
Example: GROPE (Ballerina’s asset) ….. Answer: GRACE
Some of the chords used are inversions of others, but no set of letters in the chord list we have supplied is used more than once. We suggest you check off each chord as you solve the words.
CEA…CEB…CEG…
DAB…DAC…DEA…DEF…DEG…DFA…
EFA…EGA…EGB…
FAC…FAD…
GAB… GAC…GAD…GBE…GEC…
ACE…ADE…
BEA…BEC…BEF…BEG
1. ORION: Expanse that has inspired much music. _ _ _ _ _
2. BIOTIN: Clocktower that produces a noted chime (2 words) _ _ _ _ _ _
3. ENTREE: Item in a music professor’s dossier; step _ _ _ _ _ _
4. INSERT: German basso Junghanns; an early English king _ _ _ _ _ _
5. VULGAR: Role in a John Gay opera; mendicant _ _ _ _ _ _
6. CHAUNCE: Type of chord at music’s end _ _ _ _ _ _ _
7. DRACLLA: Composer (1876-1946) of Atlantis, friend to Lorca (2 words) _ _ _ _ _ _ _
8. MARKETT: Playwright who collaborated with composer Feldman _ _ _ _ _ _ _
9. ROBBINS: Gets back, as stage composure _ _ _ _ _ _ _
10. SPUTNIK: Fellow who once played the bongo drum and shouted “Crazy man!” _ _ _ _ _ _ _
11. POTTOTUM: Figaro’s calling (lit., do everything, in Latin) _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
12. WINEMILL: Ricky Nelson CD album; huge profit _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
13. PLAYMAKER: It’s vital for the heart; metronome _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
14. SPINSTIRLS: Peppery Brit pop band (2 words) _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
15. TAKINABLOW: Responding to applause (3 words) _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
If you have solved all 15 puzzlers, e-mail them to us at