Tone vs. Tune — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on November 1, 2023
Tone refers to the quality or character of sound, while Tune is a series of musical notes producing a melody.
Difference Between Tone and Tune
Table of Contents
ADVERTISEMENT
Key Differences
Tone and Tune both relate to sound, but they function in different capacities. Tone focuses on the quality, character, or strength of a sound. It can refer to the distinct sound of a voice, instrument, or even the mood conveyed in writing. In contrast, Tune refers specifically to a series of musical notes arranged in succession to create a melody.
When you think of your favorite song, its melody, or the way the notes progress, represents its Tune. The quality of the sound of each note, however, pertains to its Tone.
Furthermore, while Tone is versatile, spanning music, speech, and literature, Tune is predominantly musical.
Comparison Chart
Definition
Quality or character of sound
A series of musical notes forming a melody
Application
Music, speech, literature
Predominantly in music
ADVERTISEMENT
Component
Sound's distinct quality
Succession of notes
Relation to Music
Describes sound quality of instruments/voices
Describes melody or harmony
Flexibility
Can convey mood or emotion
Specifies a musical arrangement
Compare with Definitions
Tone
A sound's distinct quality or character.
The violin had a rich and mellow tone.
Tune
To adjust an instrument to a particular pitch.
He took a moment to tune his guitar.
Tone
The mood conveyed in a piece of writing.
The author's tone was somber and reflective.
Tune
A particular state of mind or mood.
She was in a cheerful tune after the good news.
Tone
A specific pitch or frequency of sound.
She hit the right tone on the piano.
Tune
The correct pitch or harmony.
The choir was in tune with the orchestra.
Tone
The strength or weakness in a sound or voice.
His tone was assertive during the debate.
Tune
A melody, especially a simple and easily remembered one.
Tone
A shade of color or value.
The room had a warm and inviting tone.
Tune
A song.
Tone
A musical or vocal sound with reference to its pitch, quality, and strength
They were speaking in hushed tones
The piano tone appears lacking in warmth
Tune
The state of being in correct pitch
Sang out of tune.
Played in tune with the piano.
Tone
The general character or attitude of a place, piece of writing, situation, etc.
There was a general tone of ill-concealed glee in the reporting
My friend and I lowered the tone with our oafish ways
Tune
(Obsolete) A musical tone.
Tone
A basic interval in classical Western music, equal to two semitones and separating, for example, the first and second notes of an ordinary scale (such as C and D, or E and F sharp); a major second
The B flat clarinet's part is written one tone higher than the pitch required
Tune
Concord or agreement; harmony
In tune with the times.
Tone
The particular quality of brightness, deepness, or hue of a shade of a colour
An attractive colour which is even in tone and texture
Stained glass in vivid tones of red and blue
Tune
(Archaic) Frame of mind; disposition.
Tone
(in some languages, such as Chinese) a particular pitch pattern on a syllable used to make semantic distinctions.
Tune
(Electronics) Adjustment of a receiver or circuit for maximum response to a given signal or frequency.
Tone
The normal level of firmness or slight contraction in a resting muscle
A reduction of muscle tone
A certain amount of daily exercise is essential to maintain proper body tone and function
Tune
(Music) To put into proper pitch
Tuned the violin.
Tone
Give greater strength or firmness to (the body or a muscle)
Exercise tones up the muscles
Tune
(Archaic) To utter musically; sing.
Tone
Harmonize with (something) in terms of colour
The rich orange colour of the wood tones beautifully with the yellow roses
Tune
To adjust (an electronic receiver) to a desired frequency.
Tone
Give (a monochrome picture) an altered colour in finishing by means of a chemical solution
It's a good idea to sepia tone the whole print first
Tune
To adjust (an electronic circuit) so as to make it resonant with a given input signal.
Tone
A sound of distinct pitch, quality, and duration; a note.
Tune
To adjust (an engine, for example) for maximum usability or performance.
Tone
The interval of a major second in the diatonic scale; a whole step.
Tune
To adjust the wavelength output of (a laser).
Tone
A recitational melody in a Gregorian chant.
Tune
To become attuned.
Tone
The quality or character of sound.
Tune
A melody.
Tone
The characteristic quality or timbre of a particular instrument or voice.
Tune
A song, or short musical composition.
Tone
The pitch of a word used to determine its meaning or to distinguish differences in meaning.
Tune
(informal) The act of tuning or maintenance.
Your engine needs a good tune.
Tone
The particular or relative pitch of a word, phrase, or sentence.
Tune
The state or condition of being correctly tuned.
Your engine is now in tune.
This piano is not in tune.
Tone
Manner of expression in speech or writing
Took an angry tone with the reporters.
Tune
(obsolete) Temper; frame of mind.
Tone
A general quality, effect, or atmosphere
A room with an elegant tone.
Tune
(obsolete) A sound; a note; a tone.
Tone
A color or shade of color
Light tones of blue.
Tune
(obsolete) Order; harmony; concord.
Tone
Quality of color
The green wallpaper had a particularly somber tone.
Tune
Used to show appreciation or approval of a song.
You heard the new Rizzle Kicks song? — Tune!
Tone
The general effect in painting of light, color, and shade.
Tune
To adjust (a musical instrument) so that it produces the correct pitches.
To tune a piano or a violin
Tone
The normal state of elastic tension or partial contraction in resting muscles.
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.
Tone
Normal firmness of a tissue or an organ.
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.
Tone
To give a particular tone or inflection to.
Tune
Of faculties, senses, etc.: to adapt to or direct towards a particular target.
My ears were tuned to the sounds of the forest.
Tone
To soften or change the color of (a painting or photographic negative, for example).
Tune
To make more precise, intense, or effective; to put into a proper state or disposition.
Tone
To sound monotonously; intone.
Tune
To attune; to adapt in style of music; to make harmonious.
Tone
To make firmer or stronger. Often used with up
Exercises that tone up the body.
Tune
(transitive) To give a certain tone or character to.
Tone
To assume a particular color quality.
Tune
(obsolete) To sing with melody or harmony.
Tone
To harmonize in color.
Tune
To be impudent towards; to cheek.
Are you tuning me?
Tone
(music) A specific pitch.
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.)
Tone
(music) (in the diatonic scale) An interval of a major second.
Tune
A sound; a note; a tone.
Tone
(music) (in a Gregorian chant) A recitational melody.
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.
Tone
The character of a sound, especially the timbre of an instrument or voice.
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].
Tone
(linguistics) The pitch of a word that distinguishes a difference in meaning, for example in Chinese.
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.
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.
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.
Tone
(literature) The manner in which speech or writing is expressed.
Tune
To sing with melody or harmony.
Fountains, and ye, that warble, as ye flow,Melodious murmurs, warbling tune his praise.
Tone
(obsolete) State of mind; temper; mood.
Tune
To put into a proper state or disposition.
Tone
The shade or quality of a colour.
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.
Tone
The favourable effect of a picture produced by the combination of light and shade, or of colours.
This picture has tone.
Tune
To utter inarticulate harmony with the voice; to sing without pronouncing words; to hum.
Tone
The definition and firmness of a muscle or organ; see also: tonus.
Tune
A succession of notes forming a distinctive sequence;
She was humming an air from Beethoven
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.
Tune
The property of producing accurately a note of a given pitch;
He cannot sing in tune
The clarinet was out of tune
Tone
(biology) Normal tension or responsiveness to stimuli.
Tune
The adjustment of a radio receiver or other circuit to a required frequency
Tone
A gun
Tune
Adjust for (better) functioning;
Tune the engine
Tone
(figuratively)
Tune
Of musical instruments;
My piano needs to be tuned
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.
Tune
A melody or harmonious sequence of notes.
She hummed a familiar tune.
Tone
(Chiefly in the form lower/raise the tone of something) The quality of being respectable or admirable.
Tune
A song or piece of music.
That tune has been stuck in my head all day.
Tone
(transitive) to give a particular tone to
Tone
(transitive) to change the colour of
Tone
(transitive) to make (something) firmer
Tone
(transitive) to utter with an affected tone.
Tone
The one (of two)
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.
Tone
Accent, or inflection or modulation of the voice, as adapted to express emotion or passion.
Eager his tone, and ardent were his eyes.
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.
Tone
A sound considered as to pitch; as, the seven tones of the octave; she has good high tones.
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.
Tone
Tonicity; as, arterial tone.
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.
Tone
Tenor; character; spirit; drift; as, the tone of his remarks was commendatory.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Tone
The condition of normal balance of a healthy plant in its relations to light, heat, and moisture.
Tone
To utter with an affected tone.
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.
Tone
The quality of a person's voice;
He began in a conversational tone
He spoke in a nervous tone of voice
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
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
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
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
Tone
A notation representing the pitch and duration of a musical sound;
The singer held the note too long
Tone
A steady sound without overtones;
They tested his hearing with pure tones of different frequencies
Tone
The elastic tension of living muscles, arteries, etc. that facilitate response to stimuli;
The doctor tested my tonicity
Tone
A musical interval of two semitones
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
Tone
Utter monotonously and repetitively and rhythmically;
The students chanted the same slogan over and over again
Tone
Of one's speech, varying the pitch
Tone
Change the color or tone of;
Tone a negative
Tone
Change to a color image;
Tone a photographic image
Tone
Give a healthy elasticity to;
Let's tone our muscles
Common Curiosities
Can a tune have multiple tones?
Yes, a tune consists of a series of notes, each with its own tone.
Is tone just related to music?
No, tone can refer to sound quality, mood in writing, or even shades of color.
What instruments help tune others?
Instruments like tuning forks help ensure others are at the correct pitch.
Can a song have more than one tune?
A song can have multiple melodies or tunes, like in a duet.
Can tone affect a song's emotion?
Yes, tone can influence the feel or emotion of a song.
Is tone always audible?
Not always; in literature, tone refers to the mood or attitude conveyed.
Can a person's speaking tone convey emotion?
Yes, tone in speech can reveal feelings or attitudes.
How does tone relate to color?
In art, tone refers to the lightness or darkness of a color.
Is a tune the same as a song?
Not exactly; a tune refers to the melody, while a song includes lyrics and harmony.
Can you tune a voice?
Singers often "tune" their voices to hit notes correctly.
Can instruments lose their tune?
Yes, instruments can go out of tune due to factors like temperature changes.
How can one improve vocal tone?
Techniques like breath control and vocal exercises can enhance tone.
How are tone and mood related in literature?
Tone reflects the writer's attitude, while mood is the feeling the reader gets.
Is a catchy tune always fast-paced?
No, a tune's catchiness isn't solely based on its speed.
Can writing have a tune?
Not in a musical sense, but writing can have a "rhythm" or "flow."
Share Your Discovery
Previous Comparison
Configuration vs. Layout
Next Comparison
So vs. ThusAuthor Spotlight
Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
