tonal

American  

[tohn-l] / ˈtoʊn l /

adjective

Music.

1. pertaining to or having tonality.

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tonal British  

/ ˈtəʊnəl /

adjective

1. of or relating to tone

2. of, relating to, or utilizing the diatonic system; having an established key Compare atonal

3. 1. (of an answer in a fugue) not having the same melodic intervals as the subject, so as to remain in the original key

   2. denoting a fugue as having such an answer Compare real 1

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Other Word Forms

• tonally adverb

Etymology

Origin of tonal

1770–80; < Medieval Latin tonālis . See tone, -al ¹

Example Sentences

The film vaults across eight decades, but tonally it’s as still as a rabbit snare, letting the audience creep up to its theme of human obsolescence.

From Los Angeles Times

It was a tonal shift even from Monday's speech in Downing Street.

From BBC

The edges and angles have been sanded down and polished; tonally, it resembles “Northern Exposure” more than the show it’s adapting.

From Los Angeles Times

What makes “Picnic” an enduring work of art is its tonal complexity.

From The Wall Street Journal

Just be sure that tonally you are conveying excitement and curiosity, not skepticism.

From MarketWatch