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A tritone is a musical interval that spans three whole tones.

The tritone divides the octave into two equal parts. It can appear in both diminished and dominant 7th chords.

A tritone is an interval made up of three whole tones. As an example, C to D is one tone, D to E another, and E to F sharp a third tone. The interval, therefore, between the C and the F sharp is an augumented fourth (or, for keyboard players it could also be regarded as C - G flat or a diminished fifth). This augmented fourth was regarded in medieval times as a very dissonant interval, so dissonant that it was given the nickname 'the devil's own interval', and was therefore never used in sacred music because of its 'horrible' and 'evil' sound.

Nowadays, to our more sophisticated ears, the augmented fourth sounds much more acceptable, if a little hollow. It is now used in all forms of music, both sacred and secular. A particularly stunning use of the C-Fsharp augmented fourth interval can be seen in the English composer Benjamin Britten's masterpiece the 'War Requiem', written in the 1960s for the consecration of the new Coventry Cathedral in the UK that was rebuilt after being destroyed by Nazi bombers in World War II. The first movement 'Requiem Aeternam' is based solely on the augmented fourth or tritone to wonderful effect - both in the choral parts and in the tolling of tubular bells throughout.

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an interval of three whole steps.

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What is a tritone in music and how does it contribute to the overall sound and harmony of a musical piece?

A tritone in music is an interval spanning three whole tones. It creates tension and dissonance in a musical piece, adding a sense of unease or instability. When resolved properly, the tritone contributes to the overall sound and harmony by creating a sense of movement and resolution, adding depth and interest to the music.


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Can you explain the concept of tritone substitution and how it is used in jazz harmony?

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