Definition

Relating to or involving the use of multiple musical tonalities at the same time.

Example

The composer created a polytonal piece that blended different musical keys.

Conversation

Have you ever listened to polytonal music before?

Yeah, I heard some once, and it was really interesting!

I love how it creates such a unique sound with different tones.

Exactly! It's like each layer tells its own story.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Polytonal → It is formed from "poly-" (from Greek "polus", meaning many) and "tonal" (from Latin "tonalis", meaning relating to tone). The word "polytonal" refers to music that uses multiple tones or keys simultaneously.

Memory Tip

Think of 'many' ('poly-') tones ('tonal') coming together in music — that's what polytonal means.

Visually Confused Words