Definitions and Examples of atonal, unmusical
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
Not having a tonal center or key; lacking a sense of harmony or melody.
Example
The composer experimented with atonal music, which challenged traditional notions of harmony and melody.
Not musical in nature; lacking musical ability or sensitivity.
Example
Despite her love for music, she was unmusical and could not carry a tune.
Key Differences: atonal vs unmusical
- 1Atonal refers specifically to music that lacks a tonal center or key, while unmusical can refer to anything that is not musical in nature.
- 2Atonal is a complementary antonym, meaning it is the opposite of tonal, while unmusical is a gradable antonym, meaning it describes a spectrum of musical ability or sensitivity.
Effective Usage of atonal, unmusical
- 1Music Theory: Use tonal and atonal to describe different types of music and their characteristics.
- 2Musical Ability: Use unmusical to describe someone's lack of musical ability or sensitivity.
- 3Critique: Incorporate these antonyms in music reviews to describe the tonality and musicality of a piece.
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Remember this!
The antonyms of tonal are atonal and unmusical. Atonal refers specifically to music that lacks a tonal center or key, while unmusical describes something that is not musical in nature. Use these words to discuss music theory, musical ability, and critique musical pieces.
