leading tone

noun

scale degree seven when the first scale degree is one half step higher than the seventh scale degree

Similar
subtonic
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Meanings

nounleading tone (plural leading tones)

plural leading tones

  1. entertainmentscale degree seven when the first scale degree is one half step higher than the seventh scale degree

Synonyms & antonyms

noun(music) the seventh note of the diatonic scale

Similar
subtonic
Broader
notemusical notetone
Also see
subtonic

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Translations

Chinese Mandarin 导音
  • 导音 (dǎo yīn)Translations
Dutch leidtoon
  • leidtoonTranslations
Finnish johtosävel
  • johtosävelTranslations
French sensible, note sensible
  • sensibleTranslations
  • note sensibleTranslations
German Leitton
  • LeittonTranslations
Italian sensibile
  • sensibileTranslations
Polish dźwięk prowadzący
  • dźwięk prowadzącyTranslations
Cite this entry
APA

leading tone. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/leading%20tone

MLA

“leading tone.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/leading%20tone. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “leading tone,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/leading%20tone.

Source: leading tone on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.