Tonality
noun
The character of a piece of music determined by the key in which it's written or played.
The tonality of the symphony was major, making the piece sound happy and alive.
Often appears as...
- major tonality
- minor tonality
noun
The general mood or emotion that a work of art, especially a piece of music or a film, creates.
The tonality of the film could be described as dark and foreboding.
Often appears as...
- dark tonality
- light tonality
noun
The quality of color in a painting, photograph, etc., and the relationships between the different colors.
The artist used a warm tonality for the sunset in his painting.
Often appears as...
- warm tonality
- cool tonality
Usage tips
Technical
noun
The character of a piece of music determined by the key in which it's written or played.
The tonality of the symphony was major, making the piece sound happy and alive.
Often appears as...
- major tonality
- minor tonality
noun
The general mood or emotion that a work of art, especially a piece of music or a film, creates.
The tonality of the film could be described as dark and foreboding.
Often appears as...
- dark tonality
- light tonality
noun
The quality of color in a painting, photograph, etc., and the relationships between the different colors.
The artist used a warm tonality for the sunset in his painting.
Often appears as...
- warm tonality
- cool tonality
Usage tips
Technical
Definition 1 of 3
Pro Tip 1/3Musical Emotion
Understand that tonality can evoke specific emotions; major often sounds happy, while minor can sound sad.
Notice the joyful tonality of the song during the celebration scene.
Pro Tip 2/3Cultural Variation
Different cultures might associate tonalities with varied emotions or events, not always matching Western norms.
The tonality used in this folk song conveys a different sentiment in Eastern music.
Pro Tip 3/3Genre Indicator
Certain genres of music have typical tonalities; blues often has a 'blue' tonal scale, distinct from others.
This blues riff has a tonality that's deeply rooted in American musical history.
Pro Tip 1/3Musical Emotion
Understand that tonality can evoke specific emotions; major often sounds happy, while minor can sound sad.
Notice the joyful tonality of the song during the celebration scene.
Pro Tip 2/3Cultural Variation
Different cultures might associate tonalities with varied emotions or events, not always matching Western norms.
The tonality used in this folk song conveys a different sentiment in Eastern music.
Pro Tip 3/3Genre Indicator
Certain genres of music have typical tonalities; blues often has a 'blue' tonal scale, distinct from others.
This blues riff has a tonality that's deeply rooted in American musical history.
Pro Tip 1/3Musical Emotion
Understand that tonality can evoke specific emotions; major often sounds happy, while minor can sound sad.
Notice the joyful tonality of the song during the celebration scene.
Pro Tip 2/3Cultural Variation
Different cultures might associate tonalities with varied emotions or events, not always matching Western norms.
The tonality used in this folk song conveys a different sentiment in Eastern music.
Pro Tip 3/3Genre Indicator
Certain genres of music have typical tonalities; blues often has a 'blue' tonal scale, distinct from others.
This blues riff has a tonality that's deeply rooted in American musical history.
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Video examples
Monkey Cuisine PIPE Secret...
something for them all to be commenting on they had different degrees of tonality to them and each different squeak would be quite similar to the phrase that you or I might use this is a really good sized troop I mean they can get up to about a hundred I'd say this
Video examples
Monkey Cuisine PIPE Secret...
something for them all to be commenting on they had different degrees of tonality to them and each different squeak would be quite similar to the phrase that you or I might use this is a really good sized troop I mean they can get up to about a hundred I'd say this
Example 1 of 1
Quote examples
Arto Lindsay
American Musician
We were really interested in music from all over the world. We realized that what we were doing was very close to contemporary classical music because of the lack of tonality in the guitar- the fact that I play guitar the way I play.
Quote examples
Sandra E. Peterson
American Businesswoman
The people inside the company, generally two to three levels down, they know best what's wrong and how to fix it. It's just that their voices aren't being heard. I listen for words, tonality, and language.
Quote examples
Timothee Chalamet
American Actor
There's the truth to every moment that you have to bring to every scene, but you have to understand the tonality of the film before you begin, which isn't something that's instinctual to me.
Quote examples
Fela Kuti
Nigerian Musician
The rhythm, the sounds, the tonality, the chord sequences, the individual effect of each instrument and each section of the band - I'm talking about a whole continent in my music.
Quote examples
Tituss Burgess
American Actor
Penny Dreadful' is so realistic. The tonality is so earthy and so real that I actually believe it is in the realm of possibility for all these extra species to exist among us.
Quote examples
Stephen Hough
British Composer
I want music to move me, and I don't think it can do that without at least a link to tonality. It's the tug between atonal and tonal which makes music poignant.
Quote examples
Anupriya Goenka
Indian Actress
I realised how important it is to have your body movement, your diction, tonality, dialogue delivery and to be in rhythm because everything is musical.
Quote examples
Frank Sinatra Jr.
American Singer
Rap is the pulsation given by some, usually an electronic rhythm section, without any tonality, and you have someone reading high-school poetry.
Quote examples
Conrad Hall
American Artist
Manipulating shadows and tonality is like writing music or a poem.
Quote examples
Ramin Djawadi
German Composer
The tonality of the flute almost has a mystic element to me.
Quote examples
Arto Lindsay
American Musician
We were really interested in music from all over the world. We realized that what we were doing was very close to contemporary classical music because of the lack of tonality in the guitar- the fact that I play guitar the way I play.
Quote examples
Sandra E. Peterson
American Businesswoman
The people inside the company, generally two to three levels down, they know best what's wrong and how to fix it. It's just that their voices aren't being heard. I listen for words, tonality, and language.
Quote examples
Timothee Chalamet
American Actor
There's the truth to every moment that you have to bring to every scene, but you have to understand the tonality of the film before you begin, which isn't something that's instinctual to me.
Quote examples
Fela Kuti
Nigerian Musician
The rhythm, the sounds, the tonality, the chord sequences, the individual effect of each instrument and each section of the band - I'm talking about a whole continent in my music.
Quote examples
Tituss Burgess
American Actor
Penny Dreadful' is so realistic. The tonality is so earthy and so real that I actually believe it is in the realm of possibility for all these extra species to exist among us.
Quote examples
Stephen Hough
British Composer
I want music to move me, and I don't think it can do that without at least a link to tonality. It's the tug between atonal and tonal which makes music poignant.
Quote examples
Anupriya Goenka
Indian Actress
I realised how important it is to have your body movement, your diction, tonality, dialogue delivery and to be in rhythm because everything is musical.
Quote examples
Frank Sinatra Jr.
American Singer
Rap is the pulsation given by some, usually an electronic rhythm section, without any tonality, and you have someone reading high-school poetry.
Quote examples
Conrad Hall
American Artist
Manipulating shadows and tonality is like writing music or a poem.
Quote examples
Ramin Djawadi
German Composer
The tonality of the flute almost has a mystic element to me.
Example 1 of 10
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