tritone
Three whole tones
A tritone is a musical interval spanning three whole tones—exactly half an octave.
The interval sounds unstable and dissonant, historically called diabolus in musica (the devil in music) because of its unsettling quality.
The tritone appears in dominant seventh chords and creates the tension that demands resolution in Western harmony.
Sonically identical, spelled differently
- semitoneMinimum Western musical interval
- octaveEight-note interval
- perfect fifthSeven-semitone musical interval
- minor thirdThree-semitone pitch distance
chromatic · pitch · scale · chord · triad · harmony · tonality · melodic
Lack of harmony
- discordLack of agreement
- instabilityTendency toward unpredictable change
- unresolvedLacking final determination
- clashingStriking with discord
harsh · jarring · discordant · cacophonous · inharmonious · grating · strident · atonal
Fast, complex jazz style
- improvisationSpontaneous, unplanned creation
- substitutionExchange of one for another
- Coltrane"Giant Steps" musician
- MonkShalhoub's anxious investigator role
blue note · reharmonization · swing · saxophone · piano · fusion · modal · Giant Steps
Harmonious sound combination
- resolutionFormal decision or determination
- cadenceRhythmic pulse or pattern
- tonicInvigorating medicinal drink
- dominantHaving superior influence
suspension · counterpoint · modulation · release · stability · resolve · perfect fifth · preparation
Flatted pitch in jazz
- slide guitarStringed instrument with gliding bar
- B.B. KingBlues guitarist icon
- Muddy WatersChicago blues founding figure
- shuffleRandomize by mixing
Robert Johnson · Delta · Chicago · harmonica · bent notes · moan · wail · juke joint
enharmonic
Sonically identical, spelled differently
- semitoneMinimum Western musical interval
- octaveEight-note interval
- perfect fifthSeven-semitone musical interval
minor third · chromatic · pitch · scale · chord · triad · harmony · tonality · melodic
dissonance
Lack of harmony
- discordLack of agreement
- instabilityTendency toward unpredictable change
- unresolvedLacking final determination
clashing · harsh · jarring · discordant · cacophonous · inharmonious · grating · strident · atonal · suspense
bebop
Fast, complex jazz style
- improvisationSpontaneous, unplanned creation
- substitutionExchange of one for another
- Coltrane"Giant Steps" musician
Monk · blue note · reharmonization · swing · saxophone · piano · fusion · modal · Giant Steps · harmony
consonance
Harmonious sound combination
- resolutionFormal decision or determination
- cadenceRhythmic pulse or pattern
- tonicInvigorating medicinal drink
dominant · suspension · counterpoint · modulation · release · stability · resolve · perfect fifth · preparation · arrival
blue note
Flatted pitch in jazz
- slide guitarStringed instrument with gliding bar
- B.B. KingBlues guitarist icon
- Muddy WatersChicago blues founding figure
Robert Johnson · shuffle · Delta · Chicago · harmonica · bent notes · moan · wail · juke joint · expressive
forbidden
Not allowed
banned · church · superstition · occult · horror · darkness · danger · warning · menace · Satan
tritoneperfect fifth
Seven-semitone musical interval
consonance · octave · perfect fourth · unison · minor third