Tonality-Key Vocabulary List

Atonality- the absence of tonality - without relationship to key, root, and so on.

Dominant- the fifth degree of the scale.

Enharmonic- referring to tones which are the same, but are named differently. (like synonyms)

Fifth- the fifth degree of a scale. (the dominant)

Flat- the sign (b) that lowers a pitch a half-step.

Grace note- an ornamental note written and played just before the main note it precedes.

Key- a tonal system with seven notes in fixed relationship to a tonic note.

Major/Minor- names assigned to scales of specific half-step and whole-step patterns. Also descriptive of intervals.

Melody- a group of notes that make a tune. Also, the principle focus of a composition as compared to harmony, countermelody, and so on.

Natural- a note that is not altered by a sharp or flat. Also, the sign that cancels previous instruction to alter a note.

Scale- an arrangement of notes fitting a specific pattern.

Semitone- a half-step. The smallest interval in Western music.

Sharp- the sign (#) that raise a pitch  a half-step.

Tonality- a system in which music is written in a scale, or key, with all pitches gravitating to one pitch - the tonic.

Tonic- the most important pitch of a key, the one to which all others gravitate. The first note of a scale.