Music Fundamentals A Balanced Approach

The Tritone

Tritone(or “three tones”) is the term used to describe both the augmented fourth (A4) and the diminished fifth
(d5). The tritone, because of its dissonance, will be discussed in Module 14 along with the dominant seventh
chord. The tritone consists of three whole steps, hence the term “tritone.” For example:

Sing the opening notes to “Maria” from West Side Story,or the beginning of “The Simpsons.” Both songs begin
with the tritone. Notice also how the tritone resolves up in both songs.

Theory Trainer

Exercise 10aIdentify intervals by ear: All qualities.

Simple and Compound Intervals

We have been studying simpleintervals, or those that are an octave or smaller. Compoundintervals are larger
than an octave. For example:

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INTERVALS

Aug 4

6 half steps

dim 5

6 half steps

A

D#

6 half steps = 3 whole steps

Eb

The tritoneis considered to be one of the most dissonant intervals. Before 1600 it was originally termed the “devil in music”

(Diabolus in musica)and was forbidden to be used melodically.

Cultural note: The tritone

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Workbook Exercises 10.8–10.10