Music theory definition
Tritone
An interval of three whole steps (six half steps) - an augmented 4th or diminished 5th. Famously restless.
Hear an example
Play the example and listen for the idea described above.
The tritone
Six = the . The most restless sound in music.
Learn it in context
This term is introduced in Unit 5: Intervals. Work through the explanations and exercises to connect the definition with music.
- Minor, augmented, diminished
Making intervals smaller and larger - and the tritone.
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- Interval trainer
Explore every interval with sound and sight, or train your ear with the intervals you choose.
Related music terms
- Interval
- The distance between two notes, named by number (how many letters) and quality.
- Perfect interval
- Unisons, 4ths, 5ths, and octaves in their natural size. They sound open and stable.
- Major interval
- The larger form of a 2nd, 3rd, 6th or 7th - the size found above the tonic of a major scale.
- Minor interval
- A major interval made a half step smaller.
- Augmented
- A half step larger than perfect or major.
- Diminished
- A half step smaller than perfect or minor.