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12-tone System for Dummies

noun


What does 12-tone System really mean?

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"Hey there! Let's talk about the fascinating concept of the '12-tone system.' Now, imagine you have a set of twelve different colored crayons. Each crayon represents a specific musical pitch or note. Just like how you can arrange these crayons in different orders to create beautiful drawings, composers use the 12-tone system to organize musical notes in a unique way.

In music, we usually have scales, which are sequences of notes arranged to create a specific mood or feeling. But with the 12-tone system, things get a little bit different. Instead of favoring certain notes over others, this system treats all twelve notes equally! It's like having a box of crayons, and you make sure to use every single color in your drawing.

So, composers using the 12-tone system take all twelve notes and create what we call a 'tone row.' Now, think of a tone row as a secret code that the composer uses to build the entire piece of music. Just like writing a sentence using all the letters of the alphabet, the composer uses every note from the tone row in different orders and combinations throughout the music.

This system doesn't rely on a specific key or tonality like traditional music does. It's like exploring various paths instead of sticking to a single road. The 12-tone system allows composers to create music that sounds unique and unexpected, as they can use any combination of notes from the tone row.

Now, there's more than one definition of the 12-tone system. On one hand, it refers to the method developed by Arnold Schoenberg, an influential composer in the early 20th century. He created this system to break away from traditional harmony and explore new musical possibilities.

On the other hand, the 12-tone system can also simply refer to any musical approach that uses all twelve pitches equally. It's like having a complete set of tools to work with, rather than favoring one or two favorites.

So, if you encounter the term '12-tone system' in your music studies, just remember that it's a way for composers to use all twelve musical notes equally, allowing for creativity, complexity, and a fresh perspective in their compositions. It's like having a full box of crayons and creating a breathtaking masterpiece without leaving any color behind. Cool, right?"


Revised and Fact checked by Alex Johnson on 2023-10-27 22:19:26

12-tone System In a sentece

Learn how to use 12-tone System inside a sentece

  • In music, the 12-tone system is a way of organizing the pitches or tones we hear. It means using all twelve notes of the musical scale, without giving any note more importance than the others.
  • An example of the 12-tone system is a piece of music where the composer uses every note from C to B, making sure no note is played more often than the others.
  • Imagine a piano piece where the composer only uses the same twelve keys in a specific order, without repeating any note more than another. That's an example of the 12-tone system.
  • If you listen to a song where all the notes sound equally important and no note seems to stand out more than another, it might be an example of the 12-tone system.
  • An orchestra performing a composition that follows the 12-tone system would need to play all the notes in a specific order, without emphasizing any note more than others, creating a balanced and equal sound.

12-tone System Synonyms

Words that can be interchanged for the original word in the same context.

12-tone System Hypernyms

Words that are more generic than the original word.