Tension and release (harmonic notion) on an 8-note tongue drum with a music score. Tutorial # 5 (beginner)

Music is based on two notions that can be found in all musical styles, which are: tension and release.

Music is a clever mix between these two notions.

Indeed a song with only tension would be stressful and unpleasant while a song with only release would be boring.

We must therefore play with these two concepts in order to create relief, harmonic rhythm.

In this tutorial you will find a small example which nicely illustrates the tension and the release.

At the beginning of the phrase on the tongue drum I play the D (which is the fifth of G) then I alternate between the B and the A (which are the third and the second of G).

This whole part of the phrase represents tension, and the release comes when the G (the tonic) is played on the tongue drum.

You will find a little further down the score corresponding to this tutorial, you just have to click on it and "save the image as" to download the score.