Diabolus in Musica
The tritone—an interval spanning three whole tones—has a uniquely unsettling sound. Medieval musicians called it "Diabolus in Musica" (the Devil in Music).
What Makes It Special?
The tritone divides the octave exactly in half, creating:
- Maximum acoustic tension
- Ambiguous tonal center
- Strong pull toward resolution
- Dissonance that demands movement
The Church Ban (Myth vs. Reality)
Popular legend says the Church banned the tritone. In reality:
- It was avoided in sacred music, not legally banned
- The prohibition was aesthetic, not theological
- Composers used it carefully for tension
Modern Usage
The tritone now appears everywhere:
- Jazz: Foundation of dominant seventh chords
- Blues: Essential to the blues sound
- Metal: Creates heaviness and tension
- Film scores: Signals danger or evil
Famous Tritone Examples
- "Black Sabbath" opening riff
- The Simpsons theme
- "Maria" from West Side Story
- Jimi Hendrix's "Purple Haze"