tritone
C2Formal, Technical
Definition
Meaning
A musical interval spanning three whole tones (e.g., from F to B).
1. In music theory, the augmented fourth or diminished fifth interval, traditionally considered dissonant and historically called 'diabolus in musica' (the devil in music). 2. In jazz, a key harmonic substitution using chords a tritone apart. 3. Less commonly, used metaphorically to describe extreme tension or disharmony.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily a term of art in Western music theory and practice. Its metaphorical use outside music is rare and highly stylized.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in definition or application. Spelling and pronunciation are consistent.
Connotations
Identical technical connotations in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally rare in general discourse, used exclusively in musical contexts in both regions.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
The [composer/soloist] used a bold tritone.The interval from [note X] to [note Y] is a tritone.It resolves the tension of the tritone to a [more consonant interval].Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[No common idioms. The historical name 'diabolus in musica' functions as a fixed phrase.]”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in musicology, theory, and historical texts on Western music.
Everyday
Extremely rare, only among musicians or highly educated enthusiasts.
Technical
Core term in music theory, composition, and performance analysis.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- [No standard verb form]
American English
- [No standard verb form]
adverb
British English
- [No standard adverb form]
American English
- [No standard adverb form]
adjective
British English
- The passage featured a tritonal leap that created deliberate unease.
- Its tritonal relationship to the root chord defines the substitution.
American English
- The composer's tritone harmony was strikingly modern.
- They explored the tritonal axis in their improvisation.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- [Level too low for this technical term]
- [Level too low for this technical term]
- The composer used a tritone to make the music sound mysterious.
- In some older music, the tritone was considered unpleasant.
- The resolution of the tritone to a major third is a hallmark of cadential harmony in the common practice period.
- Jazz musicians often employ tritone substitution to add chromatic interest to a II-V-I progression.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think 'TRI-angle' has three sides, a 'TRI-tone' spans three WHOLE tones.
Conceptual Metaphor
HARMONY IS PEACE / DISSONANCE IS CONFLICT (The tritone is the archetypal dissonance, often metaphorically linked to evil, tension, or the supernatural).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Прямой перевод "тритон" в русском языке — это прежде всего земноводное (тритон). В музыкальном контексте используется калька "тритон" или описательно "увеличенная кварта/уменьшенная квинта".
Common Mistakes
- Mispronouncing it as /ˈtrɪt.əʊn/ (like 'trip').
- Confusing it with a 'triad' (a three-note chord).
- Using it to describe any dissonant sound outside its precise musical definition.
Practice
Quiz
What is the tritone also known as?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
In medieval and Renaissance music theory, its extreme dissonance was considered unnatural, disturbing, and even evil, leading to its cautionary nickname and strict compositional rules governing its use.
Yes, extensively. While its dissonance is still exploited in film scores for tension or horror, it is a fundamental building block in blues, jazz (for chord substitution), and heavy metal, where it is embraced for its distinctive, powerful sound.
The opening two notes of Leonard Bernstein's 'Maria' from West Side Story ('Ma-ri-a') form a tritone. The bassline in Black Sabbath's eponymous song 'Black Sabbath' is also built around a tritone interval.
Yes. An octave spans twelve semitones. A tritone spans six semitones, dividing the octave exactly in half, which contributes to its unique, unstable sound.