tonality Definition
- 1the character of a piece of music determined by the key in which it is written
- 2the quality of a sound governed by the rate of vibrations producing it; the degree of highness or lowness of a tone
Using tonality: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "tonality" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
The tonality of this piece is in C major.
Example
The composer used a variety of tonalities to create a unique sound.
Example
The tonality of her voice was soothing and calming.
tonality Synonyms and Antonyms
Phrases with tonality
the absence of tonality or key in music, characterized by the use of dissonant harmonies and unresolved chords
Example
The composer experimented with atonality in his latest work.
modal tonality
a system of musical modes used in medieval and Renaissance music, in which each mode is based on a different scale
Example
The use of modal tonality was common in early church music.
a system of harmony in which all twelve notes of the chromatic scale are given equal importance, often used in modern music
Example
The composer used chromatic tonality to create a sense of tension and dissonance in the piece.
Origins of tonality
from French 'tonalité', from medieval Latin 'tonalitas', from Latin 'tonus', meaning 'tone'
Summary: tonality in Brief
Tonality [toh-nal-i-tee] refers to the character of a piece of music determined by the key in which it is written. It can also refer to the quality of a sound governed by the rate of vibrations producing it. Examples include 'The tonality of this piece is in C major' and 'The tonality of her voice was soothing and calming.' Tonality extends into phrases like 'atonality,' which describes the absence of tonality or key in music.
