Dissonance
Intervals or chords perceived as tense, unstable, and seeking resolution.
Category
harmony
Origin
Latin
Length
161 words · 1 min read
About Dissonance
Dissonance is the quality of sound that creates tension and a sense of incompleteness, driving music forward toward resolution. In Western tonal theory, intervals such as the minor second, major seventh, and tritone are considered dissonant because the frequency ratios of their component notes produce audible beating and roughness.
More harmony terms
Chord
View all harmonyterms →Three or more notes sounded simultaneously
ResolutionThe move from a dissonant or unstable sonority to a consonant or stable one
TriadA three-note chord built from stacked thirds
Seventh ChordA four-note chord adding a seventh above the root to a triad
CadenceA harmonic or melodic formula that marks the end of a phrase, section, or piece.
Antonyms
See Also
Compare with similar terms
v1 · 10/04/2026Browse all terms →