Leading Tone (Noun)
Meaning
(music) the seventh note of the diatonic scale.
Classification
Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents.
Examples
- The leading tone is the seventh scale degree of the major scale, which has a strong tendency to resolve to the tonic.
- In the key of C major, the note B is the leading tone, creating a sense of tension that resolves when the music returns to the tonic.
- The leading tone is often used in music to create a sense of drama or surprise, as it can be used to modulate to a new key.
- The resolution of the leading tone to the tonic is a fundamental element of Western tonal harmony, and is used in many different styles of music.
- In the minor scale, the leading tone is often raised to create a sense of tension and release, as it resolves to the tonic.