Lead tone

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Leading tones (red) and sliding tones (blue) in C major
Leading tone and sliding tone of the harmonic A minor scale

A leading tone ( Latin subsemitonium , English leading note , French note sensible ), more rarely also butt tone , is a tone in the major-minor tonality that arouses the expectation of a continuation ( dissolution ) in a target tone one semitone higher or lower. A leading tone with a downward tendency to strive is also called a sliding tone . According to the Riemann Musiklexikon , the “forward tendency” of a leading note is “melodic due to the short distance to the following note, mostly harmonious because it belongs to oneto establish a dominant sound ”.

The prototype of a leading tone is the seventh tone of a major scale (e.g. the B in C major), which leads as a leading tone to the eighth level ( tonic ). Because of the similarity of the two tetrachords that make up the major scale , the third level is also the leading tone for the fourth (albeit with a lesser effect). In a different context, however, the fourth level (as a sliding tone) also has a tendency towards the third level.

In the minor , the sixth degree is considered a natural sliding note to the fifth degree, but - in contrast to the major - there is no leading tone leading to the tonic in the natural minor. This is therefore created in the harmonic and melodic minor by increasing the seventh degree.

Leading tones not related to the scale

In addition to the ladder's own guiding tones, secondary tones of a scale that are not part of the ladder and are introduced by chromatic changes and are only a few seconds apart from a tone on the scale can function as “artificial” guiding tones.

Regular treatment of leading tones

An important rule of voice guidance states that a leading tone should be resolved with a semitone step upwards, according to its striving tendency, while a sliding tone should be resolved downwards. In a C major cadence, the note b as the leading note must be resolved into the root note of the tonic. The note f , if it is part of a dominant chord, must be resolved to the e .

Examples of leading tone resolution in C major

The above rule does not apply absolutely, but only if the leading tone property really comes into play. Arnold Schönberg makes the following restriction: “In melodic terms, the seventh note only has a leading tone in the ascending major scale. In the falling, the b goes smoothly to a, otherwise the resolution of the 7th chord of the 1st degree would be impossible. "

Irregular treatment of leading tones

Leaping lead tone

If the leading note of a dominant chord is in a middle voice, its regular resolution often results in an incomplete triad (without a fifth or third). That is why the leading tone is often "jumped" irregularly into the missing chord tone in order to obtain a complete final triad. Bach does this almost without exception in his choral movements.

from Robert Schumann Forest Scenes, Op. 82: Leading tone (red) jumped and bent from below in Lonely Flowers

Bent lead tone

The irregularly falling (downward “bent”) lead tone is often found in Italian folk music and as a special means of expression in 19th century Italian opera. But the (sentimental-looking) bent leading tone can also be found occasionally in the music of German Romanticism.

Remarks

  • The final clauses of polyphonic music contributed significantly to the creation and treatment of the leading tones .
  • The treatment of the leading tones in the church modes and in jazz differs from the statements made here.

literature

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Lead tone . In: Wilibald Gurlitt , Hans Heinrich Eggebrecht (Ed.): Riemann Musiklexikon . 12th, completely revised edition. Tangible part: A-Z . Schott, Mainz 1967, p. 513-514 .
  2. ^ Hermann Grabner : Handbook of functional harmony theory. 13th edition. Bosse, Kassel 2005, ISBN 3-7649-2112-9 , p. 29.
  3. ^ Arnold Schönberg : Harmony . 3. Edition. Universal Edition, 1922, p. 102 f .