member

One of the elements in the set of notes which constitutes a chord.

In familiar tertian harmonic theory, the generic names of the chord-members are as follows (listed analagously to their pitch):

(15th=double 8ve)
13th
11th
9th
7th
5th
3rd
root

Since the '15th' is a double-'octave'-duplication of the 'root', there are only 7 different chord-members possible in tertian harmony, excluding chromatic alteration of any of these 7; it is thus a closed system in this sense.

Just-intonation harmonic construction, on the other hand, is not limited in this way, since no cycle of any just ratio ever returns exactly to the pitch of the origin or to an 'octave'-duplication of it; JI is thus an open system in this sense.

[from Joe Monzo, JustMusic: A New Harmony]

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