Tone vs. Tune: Know the Difference
By Shumaila Saeed || Updated on December 25, 2023
Tone refers to the quality or character of sound, especially in speech or music, while tune refers to a sequence of musical notes forming a melody.
Key Differences
"Tone" refers to the quality, pitch, strength, or character of a sound, especially in music or language. In linguistics, "tone" can indicate the mood or attitude conveyed in speech, beyond the words themselves. This term is used in various contexts, including music, literature, and conversation, to denote the character or attitude of something.
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Nov 12, 2023
On the other hand, "tune" refers specifically to a musical composition or part of a composition. It is often associated with songs or pieces of music, as a tune is recognizable and can be sung or played. In the context of music, "tone" can also refer to the specific quality of a sound, particularly regarding its pitch or timbre.
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In visual arts, "tone" is used to describe the general effect of color or light and shade. Additionally, in colloquial use, "tune" can mean to adjust an instrument or device to the correct or desired pitch.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
Quality or character of a sound
A sequence of musical notes forming a melody
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Additional Meaning
Visual arts (color, light, shade)
Adjusting an instrument to correct pitch
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Tone and Tune Definitions
Tone
In speech, the manner of expression indicating mood or attitude.
His sarcastic tone made his joke even funnier.
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Tune
A song or melody, especially a simple, catchy one.
The radio played a tune everyone could sing along to.
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Tone
The general effect of color or of light and shade in a painting.
The artist used a somber tone to convey the mood.
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Tune
The state of being correctly adjusted or in harmony, in music.
The piano was out of tune and sounded discordant.
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Tune
A pleasing musical sound or melody.
The bird's tune was a delightful addition to the morning.
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Tune
The state of being in correct pitch
Sang out of tune.
Played in tune with the piano.
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Tone
The characteristic quality or timbre of a particular instrument or voice.
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Tone
The pitch of a word used to determine its meaning or to distinguish differences in meaning.
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Tone
Manner of expression in speech or writing
Took an angry tone with the reporters.
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Tune
(Electronics) Adjustment of a receiver or circuit for maximum response to a given signal or frequency.
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Tune
To adjust (an electronic circuit) so as to make it resonant with a given input signal.
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Tone
The normal state of elastic tension or partial contraction in resting muscles.
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Tune
To adjust (an engine, for example) for maximum usability or performance.
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Tone
To soften or change the color of (a painting or photographic negative, for example).
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Tone
To make firmer or stronger. Often used with up
Exercises that tone up the body.
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Tune
(informal) The act of tuning or maintenance.
Your engine needs a good tune.
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Tune
The state or condition of being correctly tuned.
Your engine is now in tune.
This piano is not in tune.
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Tune
Used to show appreciation or approval of a song.
You heard the new Rizzle Kicks song? — Tune!
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Tone
The character of a sound, especially the timbre of an instrument or voice.
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Tune
To adjust (a musical instrument) so that it produces the correct pitches.
To tune a piano or a violin
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Tone
(linguistics) The pitch of a word that distinguishes a difference in meaning, for example in Chinese.
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Tune
To adjust or modify (esp. a mechanical or electrical device) so that it functions optimally.
Tuning the engine gave me an extra twenty horsepower.
Tune your mind, and anything becomes possible.
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Tone
(dated) A whining style of speaking; a kind of mournful or artificial strain of voice; an affected speaking with a measured rhythm and a regular rise and fall of the voice.
Children often read with a tone.
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Tune
To adjust the frequency on a radio or TV set, so as to receive the desired channel.
Tune to Channel 6 for all your favourite daytime shows.
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Tune
Of faculties, senses, etc.: to adapt to or direct towards a particular target.
My ears were tuned to the sounds of the forest.
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Tune
To make more precise, intense, or effective; to put into a proper state or disposition.
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Tone
The favourable effect of a picture produced by the combination of light and shade, or of colours.
This picture has tone.
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Tone
(biology) The state of a living body or of any of its organs or parts in which the functions are healthy and performed with due vigor.
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Tune
(fandom slang) to adjust the parameters of singing voice synthesis software such as VOCALOID (in order to achieve certain singing techniques, increase the human quality of the voice, etc.)
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Tune
A rhythmical, melodious, symmetrical series of tones for one voice or instrument, or for any number of voices or instruments in unison, or two or more such series forming parts in harmony; a melody; an air; as, a merry tune; a mournful tune; a slow tune; a psalm tune. See Air.
Like sweet bells jangled, out of tune and harsh.
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Tone
The general character, atmosphere, mood, or vibe (of a situation, place, etc.).
Her rousing speech gave an upbeat tone to the rest of the evening.
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Tune
Order; harmony; concord; fit disposition, temper, or humor; right mood.
A child will learn three times as much when he is in tune, as when he . . . is dragged unwillingly to [his task].
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Tone
(Chiefly in the form lower/raise the tone of something) The quality of being respectable or admirable.
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Tune
To put into a state adapted to produce the proper sounds; to harmonize, to cause to be in tune; to correct the tone of; as, to tune a piano or a violin.
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Tune
To give tone to; to attune; to adapt in style of music; to make harmonious.
For now to sorrow must I tune my song.
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Tune
To sing with melody or harmony.
Fountains, and ye, that warble, as ye flow,Melodious murmurs, warbling tune his praise.
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Tune
To form one sound to another; to form accordant musical sounds.
Whilst tuning to the water's fall,The small birds sang to her.
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Tune
To utter inarticulate harmony with the voice; to sing without pronouncing words; to hum.
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Tone
Sound, or the character of a sound, or a sound considered as of this or that character; as, a low, high, loud, grave, acute, sweet, or harsh tone.
[Harmony divine] smooths her charming tones.
Tones that with seraph hymns might blend.
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Tune
A succession of notes forming a distinctive sequence;
She was humming an air from Beethoven
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Tone
Accent, or inflection or modulation of the voice, as adapted to express emotion or passion.
Eager his tone, and ardent were his eyes.
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Tune
The property of producing accurately a note of a given pitch;
He cannot sing in tune
The clarinet was out of tune
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Tone
A whining style of speaking; a kind of mournful or artificial strain of voice; an affected speaking with a measured rhythm ahd a regular rise and fall of the voice; as, children often read with a tone.
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Tune
The adjustment of a radio receiver or other circuit to a required frequency
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Tone
A sound considered as to pitch; as, the seven tones of the octave; she has good high tones.
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Tone
That state of a body, or of any of its organs or parts, in which the animal functions are healthy and performed with due vigor.
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Tune
A sequence of musical notes forming a melody.
She hummed a familiar tune from her childhood.
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Tone
State of mind; temper; mood.
The strange situation I am in and the melancholy state of public affairs, . . . drag the mind down . . . from a philosophical tone or temper, to the drudgery of private and public business.
Their tone was dissatisfied, almost menacing.
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Tune
To adjust the pitch of a musical instrument.
He tuned his guitar before the concert began.
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Tone
Tenor; character; spirit; drift; as, the tone of his remarks was commendatory.
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Tone
General or prevailing character or style, as of morals, manners, or sentiment, in reference to a scale of high and low; as, a low tone of morals; a tone of elevated sentiment; a courtly tone of manners.
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Tone
The general effect of a picture produced by the combination of light and shade, together with color in the case of a painting; - commonly used in a favorable sense; as, this picture has tone.
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Tone
Quality, with respect to attendant feeling; the more or less variable complex of emotion accompanying and characterizing a sensation or a conceptual state; as, feeling tone; color tone.
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Tone
Color quality proper; - called also hue. Also, a gradation of color, either a hue, or a tint or shade.
She was dressed in a soft cloth of a gray tone.
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Tone
The condition of normal balance of a healthy plant in its relations to light, heat, and moisture.
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Tone
To bring, as a print, to a certain required shade of color, as by chemical treatment.
Its thousand hues toned down harmoniusly.
The best method for the purpose in hand was to employ some one of a character and position suited to get possession of their confidence, and then use it to tone down their religious strictures.
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Tone
The quality of a person's voice;
He began in a conversational tone
He spoke in a nervous tone of voice
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Tone
(linguistics) a pitch or change in pitch of the voice that serves to distinguish words in tonal languages;
The Beijing dialect uses four tones
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Tone
(music) the distinctive property of a complex sound (a voice or noise or musical sound);
The timbre of her soprano was rich and lovely
The muffled tones of the broken bell summoned them to meet
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Tone
The general atmosphere of a place or situation and the effect that it has on people;
The feel of the city excited him
A clergyman improved the tone of the meeting
It had the smell of treason
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Tone
A quality of a given color that differs slightly from a primary color;
After several trials he mixed the shade of pink that she wanted
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Tone
A notation representing the pitch and duration of a musical sound;
The singer held the note too long
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Tone
A steady sound without overtones;
They tested his hearing with pure tones of different frequencies
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Tone
The elastic tension of living muscles, arteries, etc. that facilitate response to stimuli;
The doctor tested my tonicity
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Tone
The quality of something (an act or a piece of writing) that reveals the attitudes and presuppositions of the author;
The general tone of articles appearing in the newspapers is that the government should withdraw
From the tone of her behavior I gathered that I had outstayed my welcome
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Tone
Utter monotonously and repetitively and rhythmically;
The students chanted the same slogan over and over again
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Tone
The quality or character of a sound.
The violin's tone was warm and expressive.
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Nov 12, 2023
Tone
A musical or vocal sound with reference to its pitch and quality.
She admired the rich tone of the cello.
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Tone
The general character or attitude of a place, piece of writing, situation, etc.
The novel's tone is dark and mysterious.
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Repeatedly Asked Queries
What does tone refer to in speech?
In speech, tone refers to the speaker's attitude or emotion conveyed beyond the words.
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Is tone important in music?
Yes, tone is crucial in music as it defines the sound's quality and character.
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Can tone be used to describe non-verbal communication?
Yes, tone can describe the mood or feeling in non-verbal cues.
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Can tune refer to instrumental music?
Yes, tune can refer to the melody in both instrumental and vocal music.
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Does tone have different meanings in different contexts?
Yes, tone can have varying meanings in music, art, and conversation.
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Is tune related to lyrics in a song?
Tune refers to the melody of the song, not the lyrics.
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Does a tune always have a rhythm?
Yes, a tune typically has a rhythm and is melodious.
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Can tone be visually represented?
In art, tone is represented through color and light, but not in a literal auditory sense.
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Is tone subjective in music?
The perception of tone in music can be somewhat subjective.
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Can tone be misinterpreted in written communication?
Yes, tone can be misinterpreted in texts or emails where non-verbal cues are absent.
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Can the tone of a piece of writing be neutral?
Yes, the tone in writing can be neutral, conveying no specific attitude.
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Can someone sing a tune without words?
Yes, tunes can be hummed or whistled without words.
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Can the same tune have different arrangements?
Yes, a tune can be arranged differently in various musical styles.
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Do all musical instruments play tunes?
Most musical instruments can play tunes, but some are more rhythm-focused.
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How does tone contribute to a story's atmosphere?
Tone sets the mood and helps establish the story's emotional setting.
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Is it important to tune a musical instrument regularly?
Regular tuning is essential for maintaining the quality of music played on an instrument.
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Does a tune need to be complex?
Tunes can range from simple to complex, depending on the composition.
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How does one improve their vocal tone?
Vocal tone can be improved with techniques like breath control and vocal exercises.
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Can a person have a distinctive tune in their speech?
While not a tune in the musical sense, speech patterns can be distinctive.
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About Author
Written by
Shumaila SaeedShumaila Saeed, an expert content creator with 6 years of experience, specializes in distilling complex topics into easily digestible comparisons, shining a light on the nuances that both inform and educate readers with clarity and accuracy.
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