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MT104 – Basic Music Theory 4 – Tone

LESSON OUTCOMES:

  1. What is Tone?
  2. Tone vs Note
  3. Perfect Pitch
  4. Tonality

Tone

The quality of sound produced.

Although a tone refers to a pitch, it is always the dominant pitch within the sound.

All acoustic sounds also possess overtones of other pitches.

Tone vs Note

A music tone is synonymous with a music note just that, while both have designated pitches, Notes also possess rhythm.

E.g. C C C can be described as 3 Notes but only 1 Tone

A B C can be both be described as 3 Notes as well as 3 Tones

Perfect Pitch

The ability to recognize the pitch of a note or produce any given note; a sense of absolute pitch.

Tonality

A system of tones (scales) used in a piece of music.

Examples

This is the air I breathe – Cmaj

I’m running to the Mercy seat (Vicky Yohe) – E minor