leading tone

noun

Definition of leading tone

: the seventh tone of a major or minor scale

— called also leading note

Examples of leading tone in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Without getting too technical, the mixolydian is a type of major scale in which the leading tone—used relentlessly in pop music to build tension and yearning—is replaced by a flat seven. — Andrew R. Chow, Time, 23 Aug. 2021

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