1. the character of a piece of music as determined by the key in which it is played or the relations between the notes of a scale or key
Usage: music theory
2. the overall quality or character of color in a painting or photograph
Usage: art; photography

Examples

• The symphony’s shift from major to minor tonality created a somber mood.
• Jazz musicians often experiment with different tonalities within a single piece.
• The photographer adjusted the tonality of the image to enhance contrast.
• Classical music theory emphasizes the importance of establishing a clear tonality.
• The painting’s warm tonality evoked feelings of comfort and nostalgia.
• Modern composers sometimes abandon traditional tonality in favor of atonality.
• The tonality of the portrait was enhanced through careful lighting.