Pitch is the property of sound that makes it possible to classify it as high or low according to its frequency.
The concept of tone comes from the Latin tonus , which in turn derives from a Greek word meaning "tension." The term has various uses and meanings, the most frequent being that linked to sounds .
In the field of acoustics, therefore, pitch is the property of sounds that allows them to be ordered from high to low according to their frequency .
The perception of sound is related to the concept of height . This means that sounds can be classified as high or low according to this pitch. For example: "My singing teacher suggested that I start singing in a higher pitch" , "The concert was a real disaster since the artist was out of tune in most of the songs" , "I'm sorry, I can't sing this song: it's not my tone .
Different uses of the term tone
Tone is also a specific way of expressing something according to the purposes or emotional conditions of the speaker: "I forbid you to speak to me with that tone again," "And that tone of voice?" Do you have a problem? .
In the same way, we cannot ignore the fact that the aforementioned term is also frequently used in the field of anatomy. In this case, it is common to talk about muscle tone, which refers to the contraction of the muscles that are responsible for determining a person's posture.
A tone, on the other hand, is the sound signal that is heard on a telephone when a line is available or the signal that sounds after dialing the number with which you intend to establish a communication: "The telephone has not been working for several days." that there is no tone» , «I tried to call you, but it gave me a busy tone all afternoon» .
Tone can also be the light level of a color or the particular accent in pronunciation.
The hue of a color is linked to its light level.
Expressions that use this concept
And all this without forgetting that there is a wide series of expressions that make use of this concept that we are analyzing. Thus, for example, we say "racy" to refer to any comment, joke or conversation that is characterized by reference to obscenity. In this sense we can establish the following phrase: "That group of friends had a risqué dialogue in which they talked about the most unique sexual experiences they had had."
"Out of tone" is another of the aforementioned expressions that we use with some frequency. With it, what is determined, colloquially, is that a comment made within a conversation is considered totally inappropriate.
The verbal phrase "lower the tone" would also be related. This is usually used to determine that a person, who has previously made a comment or expression that is absolutely inappropriate or arrogant, has modified their behavior and has opted to continue maintaining a dialogue in a calmer and more humble manner.
Finally, it should be emphasized that at a colloquial level the expression "being in tune" is also used to describe that, within an intimate moment, a person is prepared to maintain a sexual relationship.