Tendency Tones

Definition

Tendency tones are specific notes within a musical scale that naturally resolve to other notes, creating a sense of movement and direction in music. These tones are particularly important in establishing harmonic progressions and voice leading, where certain notes have a strong inclination to move to specific targets, enhancing the overall expressiveness of a piece.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. In Western music, the leading tone (7th degree) is a prime example of a tendency tone that resolves upward to the tonic (1st degree).
2. The tendency tones help create expectations in the listener, guiding them through musical phrases and resolving dissonances.
3. Voice leading principles emphasize how tendency tones move smoothly between voices, ensuring clear and effective harmonic transitions.
4. Tendency tones can also be found within predominant seventh chords, where specific notes have strong resolutions that reinforce the harmonic structure.
5. Composers often manipulate tendency tones to create emotional impact, using their resolutions to heighten tension or provide closure.

Review Questions

• How do tendency tones influence the progression of predominant seventh chords in music?
  • Tendency tones play a crucial role in shaping how predominant seventh chords resolve to dominant chords or tonic chords. For instance, in a predominant seventh chord like the subdominant seventh (IV7), certain tones have strong tendencies to resolve to the dominant or tonic. The movement of these tones creates smooth transitions and reinforces the harmonic framework of the music.
• Discuss how understanding tendency tones enhances voice leading practices in SATB writing.
  • Understanding tendency tones is essential for effective voice leading in SATB writing as it helps composers create smooth melodic lines and satisfying harmonic resolutions. By knowing which notes have strong tendencies to resolve to others, composers can guide each voice appropriately, ensuring that the harmonic movement feels natural. This results in more coherent musical phrases that maintain listener interest while adhering to classical voice leading rules.
• Evaluate the role of tendency tones in shaping musical form and expression throughout a composition.
  • Tendency tones are fundamental in shaping both musical form and emotional expression within a composition. By creating expectations through their resolutions, these tones help delineate sections of music and contribute to thematic development. As composers manipulate tendency tones throughout their works, they can build tension and release at strategic points, enhancing the overall impact and narrative of the piece. This intentional use of resolution not only provides structural integrity but also engages listeners on an emotional level.

Related terms

Leading Tone:

The seventh scale degree in a diatonic scale, which typically resolves up to the tonic, creating a strong pull towards the root of the scale.

Dissonance:

A combination of tones that creates a sense of tension or instability, often requiring resolution to a consonant harmony.

Cadence:

A melodic or harmonic configuration that creates a sense of resolution at the end of a phrase, often highlighting tendency tones as they resolve.