GCSE Music 

Tonality in Music

 

The Encyclopaedia Britannica defines tonality in music as

 

'... the principle of organising musical compositions around a central note, the tonic...' 

 

In Western classical music, tonal music means music that is in a major or minor key. In each case, the tonal centre is the first note of the major or minor scale that music is based on.

 

 

Major Tonality

 

Music in a major key is generally thought to sound 'happy'. It is more positive and up-lifting.

 

In a major key, the distance between the second and third notes of the scale is a whole tone (two half steps).

 

A Major key  could be used to help describe:

 

Victory, Triumph, Happiness, Joy, Hope etc.

 

 

Minor Tonality

 

Music in a minor key is generally thought to sound 'sad' or 'dark'. It is more melancholic.

 

In a minor key, the distance between the second and third notes of the scale is a semi-tone (one half step).

 

 

A Minor key could be used to help describe:

 

Sadness, loneliness, fear, horror, danger etc.

 

 

 

Atonal Music

 

Atonal music is music that has no sense of key. The music has no logical sense of coming to rest in a 'home' key.

 

Atonal music was explored by composers such as Alban Berg, Arnold Schoenberg, and Anton Webern at the start of the 20th Century.