Unresolved Leading Tone

Definition

The unresolved leading tone is a musical note that creates tension and wants to resolve to the tonic note, but remains unresolved. It adds a sense of anticipation and instability in the music.

Analogy

Imagine being on the edge of your seat during a suspenseful movie scene, waiting for something big to happen, but it never does. That's how an unresolved leading tone feels in music - it keeps you hanging, waiting for resolution.

Related terms

Tonic Note: The tonic note is the first and most important note of a musical key. It provides stability and resolution to the unresolved leading tone.

Dominant Chord: The dominant chord is built on the fifth scale degree and contains the unresolved leading tone. It creates tension and leads back to the tonic chord.

Cadence: A cadence is a series of chords or notes that create a sense of finality or closure in music. An unresolved leading tone often appears before a cadence, intensifying its effect.