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A tritone is a musical interval that spans three whole tones.

The tritone divides the octave into two equal parts. It can appear in both diminished and dominant 7th chords.

A tritone is an interval made up of three whole tones. As an example, C to D is one tone, D to E another, and E to F sharp a third tone. The interval, therefore, between the C and the F sharp is an augumented fourth (or, for keyboard players it could also be regarded as C - G flat or a diminished fifth). This augmented fourth was regarded in medieval times as a very dissonant interval, so dissonant that it was given the nickname 'the devil's own interval', and was therefore never used in sacred music because of its 'horrible' and 'evil' sound.

Nowadays, to our more sophisticated ears, the augmented fourth sounds much more acceptable, if a little hollow. It is now used in all forms of music, both sacred and secular. A particularly stunning use of the C-Fsharp augmented fourth interval can be seen in the English composer Benjamin Britten's masterpiece the 'War Requiem', written in the 1960s for the consecration of the new Coventry Cathedral in the UK that was rebuilt after being destroyed by Nazi bombers in World War II. The first movement 'Requiem Aeternam' is based solely on the augmented fourth or tritone to wonderful effect - both in the choral parts and in the tolling of tubular bells throughout.

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an interval of three whole steps.

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Dustin Marks

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3y ago

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Related Questions

Where in a dominant 7th chord do you find the tritone?

The interval made of of the third and the minor seventh makes a tritone.


How many whole steps make a tritone?

3


Why is it called a tritone?

A tritone is called so because it spans three whole tones in music, creating an interval of three whole steps between two notes.


How can tritone substitution be effectively utilized in jazz harmony to create harmonic interest and tension?

Tritone substitution in jazz harmony involves replacing a dominant chord with another chord that is a tritone away. This can create tension and interest by introducing unexpected harmonic colors and resolutions. By using tritone substitution strategically, jazz musicians can add depth and complexity to their chord progressions, leading to a more dynamic and engaging musical experience.


What is tritone substitution and how does it impact harmonic progressions in music?

Tritone substitution is a technique in music where a chord is replaced by another chord that is a tritone away. This substitution creates a sense of tension and adds color to the harmonic progression. It can lead to unexpected and interesting chord changes, enhancing the overall complexity and richness of the music.


How many half steps are in a tritone?

6 half steps


How many notes is a tritonic scale made up of?

There is no such thing as a ''tritonic scale'', a tritone is an interval of six semitones (half an octave), hence the name ''tritone'' which means ''three tones''.


How can tritone chord substitutions be effectively utilized in jazz harmony to create harmonic interest and tension?

Tritone chord substitutions in jazz harmony can be used to create tension and interest by replacing a dominant chord with another chord that is a tritone away. This substitution can add color and unpredictability to the harmony, leading to a more dynamic and engaging sound.


Can you explain the concept of tritone substitution and how it is used in jazz harmony?

Tritone substitution is a jazz harmony technique where a dominant seventh chord is replaced by another dominant seventh chord that is a tritone (or three whole steps) away. This substitution creates tension and adds color to the harmony, leading to interesting and unexpected chord progressions in jazz music.


What is the tritone chord substitution chart and how can it be used in music theory and composition?

The tritone chord substitution chart is a tool used in music theory to replace a chord with another chord that is a tritone away. This substitution can create tension and add color to a chord progression. In composition, it can be used to create unexpected harmonic movement and add interest to a piece of music.


What is a tritone in music and how does it contribute to the overall sound and harmony of a musical piece?

A tritone in music is an interval spanning three whole tones. It creates tension and dissonance in a musical piece, adding a sense of unease or instability. When resolved properly, the tritone contributes to the overall sound and harmony by creating a sense of movement and resolution, adding depth and interest to the music.


Can you provide an example of tritone substitution in jazz harmony?

Tritone substitution in jazz harmony involves replacing a dominant 7th chord with another dominant 7th chord that is a tritone (or three whole steps) away. For example, in the key of C major, instead of playing a G7 chord, you can substitute it with a Db7 chord. This substitution creates tension and adds color to the harmony.