TONALITY Definition & Meaning

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tonality

[ toh-nal-i-tee ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

plural tonalities.

Music.
1. the sum of relations, melodic and harmonic, existing between the tones of a scale or musical system.
2. a particular scale or system of tones; a key.
(in painting, graphics, etc.) the system of tones or tints, or the color scheme, of a picture.
the quality of tones.

tonality

/ ��əʊˈ��æ��ɪ��ɪ /

noun

music
1. the actual or implied presence of a musical key in a composition
2. the system of major and minor keys prevalent in Western music since the decline of modes Compare atonality
the overall scheme of colours and tones in a painting

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Other 51�Թ� Forms

�ٴ�·�Բ��i·�پ�� adjective
�Դǲ�t��·�Բ��i·�ٲ� noun

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51�Թ� History and Origins

Origin of tonality¹

First recorded in 1830–40; tonal + -ity

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Uncompromising and innovative, he devised the 12-tone method, a musical structure that broke with the traditional rules of tonality and composition.

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Watching people record harmonies in real time, everyone on one mic, having to match the tonality of everybody else.

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When Feyd steps into an enormous arena filled with a chanting mob eager for bloodshed, a brutalist symphony of visual aesthetics and aural tonality deepens the viciousness of the character.

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The A, D and G strings are all tuned an octave higher than a standard guitar, adding a new level of tonality.

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The next chapter the tempo shifts, tonalities of joy, and solos of love are spoken.

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