Definition of Resolution (music)
Resolution in Western tonal music theory is the move of a note or chord from dissonance (an unstable sound) to a consonance (a more final or stable sounding one).
Dissonance, resolution, and suspense can be used to create musical interest. Where a melody or chordal pattern is expected to resolve to a certain note or chord, a different but similarly suitable note can be resolved to instead, creating an interesting and unexpected sound. For example, the deceptive cadence.
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Questions people ask
Real questions from the Stack Exchange community – follow a link to read the discussion.
- What is the meaning of this New Year's Resolution joke using music sheet notations? · Music SE
- Is the sense of resolution of a harmonic cadence psychologically "intrinsic", or is it created through conditioning? · Music SE
- What is the resolution of human hearing? · Sound Design SE
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Frequently asked questions
What is Resolution (music)?
Resolution in Western tonal music theory is the move of a note or chord from dissonance (an unstable sound) to a consonance (a more final or stable sounding one).
Sources & credits
- Wikipedia: Resolution (music) – CC BY-SA 4.0
- Image by Hyacinth ( talk ) – CC BY-SA 3.0