Chromatic alterations refer to the intentional modification of a pitch by raising or lowering it a half step, which introduces notes outside the traditional diatonic scale. These alterations add color and tension to music, often enriching harmonic progressions and facilitating smoother transitions between keys. They play a crucial role in secondary dominants and modulation, as they allow composers to create temporary departures from the original key, enhancing expressiveness and dynamic movement in a piece.
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