A family of tones whose regular members are called diatonic tones, and named key tone (or tonic) or one (or eight), mediant or three, dominant or five, subdominant or four, submediant or six, supertonic or two, and subtonic or seven. Chromatic tones are temporary members of a key, under such names as " sharp four," "flat seven," etc. Scales and tunes of every variety are made from the tones of a key.
The fundamental tone of a movement to which its modulations are referred, and with which it generally begins and ends; keynote.
Fig: The general pitch or tone of a sentence or utterance.
A collection of notes that can be arranged to form one of 30 recognized scales. Keys are named for the first note of the scale; so, for example, the key of C Major includes the notes of the C Major scale; the key of G Major includes the notes of the G Major scale, and so forth.
The central group of notes around which a piece of music revolves.
the pitch reference for a diatonic scale.
the name of a certain group of notes found by following a certain scale pattern; defined by the key signature
the tonality of a composition
The specific tonality of a piece of music, indicating the precise pitch which is to serve as the tonal center.
pitch of the voice; "he spoke in a low key"
any of 24 major or minor diatonic scales that provide the tonal framework for a piece of music
United States lawyer and poet who wrote a poem after witnessing the British attack on Baltimore during the War of 1812; the poem was later set to music and entitled `The Star-Spangled Banner' (1779-1843)
regulate the musical pitch of
harmonize with or adjust to; "key one's actions to the voters' prevailing attitude"
picture The key is the scale in which a piece of music is played. It is indicated by the key signature, an arrangement of sharps and flats on the staff. More more information of keys and key signature, check out Reading Music.
(H.E.): the tonic; in general use, the word often includes a designation of mode: the key of C Minor. Harmonic Experience attempts to retain the distinction between key and mode (q.v.) whenever possible.
a work's tonal center, such as D Major or B Minor
Throughout musical history, most "classical" music has been written in a particular tonality. The tonality in such a piece is usually based on a major or minor scale. The lowest ("tonic") note of that scale determines the key, e.g. a piece based on the major scale starting on the note of C is considered to be in the key of C Major. The harmonic and melodic relationships between the notes of the piece are largely determined by the key.
The reference pitch for a song
the recognition of the notes of a scale and their relationship with each other
refers to the tonic center of musical passage that adhears to a single mode key signature is a set of accidentals at the beginning of each staff that apply to that pitch class throughout the staff. See the section on keys for more information.
A musical work in a "key" is melodically and harmonically orientated around a particular major or minor scale. For example, a composition in C Major will usually begin and end in that key, although excursions to other keys may occur. However, a passage in C Major may temporarily utilize notes that do not occur in that scale and still remain in C Major.
"A statement of the specific tonality of a work (or at least its principal movements) frequently introduced into the titles of those works which ordinarily consist only of the names of musical forms, e.g., sonata, symphony, etc. In most cases the key is designated by both its pitch-name and mode (i.e. major, minor), but in certain modern works, the pitch-name only is given and represents a predominant or recurring tonal centre rather than a specific tonality in the classical sense." (IAML, s.v. "key"). (Thorin)
The series of tones forming any given major or minor scale, considered with reference to their harmonic relations, particularly the relation of the other tones to the tonic or keynote... Attendant keys, see ATTENDANT... Chromatic key, one having sharps or flats in the signature... Extreme key, a remote key... Major key, one having a major third or sixth... Minor key, one having a minor third or sixth... Natural key, one with neither sharps nor flats in the signature... Parallel key , (a) a minor key with the same keynote as the given major key, or visa versa, (b) a Relative key (see RELATIVE)... Remote key, an indirectly related key.
The basis of musical sounds in a piece. Each key uses the notes and chords of the corresponding major scale. The key is named after the tonic (e.g. the tonic in the key of A is A).
system of notes definitely related to each other, and dominating a piece of music
It is the quality of a musical composition or passage that causes it to be sensed as gravitating towards a particular note, called the key note or the tonic.
1. The name or designation given to an absolute pitch scale, or a musical passage conforming to such a scale. Key designations include the tonic (first scale tone) and the mode (major or minor) -- as in the key of "F major." 2. The scale schema evoked by some musical passage or sequence of tones.
The tonal center of a song or musical composition.
The dominant character of a recent passage of music. The tone or chord of resolution.
the name of a particular scale of notes
The tonal center based on the tonic (foundation) note of the scale. Music written in Major keys tends to be bright and cheerful. Music written in Minor keys tends to sound sorrowful and melancholic.
Music that is based on a major or minor scale is said to be in a key. Keys are identified by their tonic.
Letter name of the note on the scale in which a song is written. This note is blown on the pitch pipe.
The prinicple of general adherence to a particular scale, for example G major or A minor. This concept is one of the most basic premises of Western music, but some music of the 20th century, particularly the music of Schoenberg, has often abandoned the idea of keys and tonality altogether.
Pitch relationships that establish a tone as tonal center or tonic. The key of a work is typically classified as a major or minor depending on the scale from which the notes are drawn. A work said to be in one key can contain passages in other keys.
In music theory, the key identifies the tonic triad, the chord, major or minor, which represents the final point of rest for a piece, or the focal point of a section. Although the key of a piece may be named in the title (e.g. Symphony in C), or inferred from the key signature, the establishment of key is brought about via functional harmony, a sequence of chords leading to one or more cadences.
A key is a specific part of a musical instrument. The purpose and function of the part in question depends on the instrument.
Key is a Japanese visual novel studio, known for making dramatic and plot-oriented dating sims. Their debut release Kanon was hugely successful in Japan. It combined an elaborate and sentimental storyline, an up-to-date anime drawing style and a popular musical score.
The Key is a DC Comics supervillain with several major incarnations.
