Music Terminology - Tonality

Question 1

Major

Answer 1

Term referring to a sequence of notes that define the tonality of the major scale.

Question 2

Minor

Answer 2

Term referring to a sequence of notes that define the tonality of the major scale.

Question 3

Modal

Answer 3

Having to do with modes; this term is applied most particularly to music that is based upon the 7 Gregorian modes.

Question 4

Atonal

Answer 4

Music without tonality, or music that is centred around no central key or scale.

Question 5

Bitonal

Answer 5

Bitonality is the use of only two different keys at the same time.

Question 6

Polytonal

Answer 6

The musical use of more than one key simultaneously

Question 7

Tonic

Answer 7

The note upon which a scale or key is based; the first note of a scale or key; the keynote.

Question 8

Dominant

Answer 8

The fifth tone of a scale. In the Classical Period it would be common practice for composers to modulate to the dominant keys in symphonies.

Question 9

Relative Minor

Answer 9

Each major key has a minor that shares the same amount of sharps/flats. This is known as the relative minor.

Question 10

Modulation

Answer 10

The process of changing from one key to another

Question 11

Tonicization

Answer 11

The technique of treating some note other than the true tonic of the composition as the tonic within a section of a composition. A “momentary/temporary modulation” without changing key.

Question 12

Transposition

Answer 12

Shifting a composition to a different pitch level.

Question 13

Enharmonic

Answer 13

Two separate pitch notations stand for the same sound. For example, the enharmonic spelling of F sharp is G flat. Both represent the same pitch frequency.