The Common ToneWhere the Sacred and the Profane Share the Same Cup

The Lab

Tools that work in the browser.

Change something and hear what happens. Explore the ideas in the book with tools that work in your browser. Teachers: project them freely.

On the shelf

A glass prism opening a beam of light into a rainbow.

Chord Spectrum

Play or type the notes; get the chord, its inversion, and where it tends to go.Open →
The circle of fifths on a card with C major’s family lit — C with F and G, and Am with Dm and Em — and a drawing compass laid across it.

Circle of Fifths

Choose a key and read the wheel eight ways, from key signatures to hidden cycles. Every chord plays.Open →
A half sundial in seven bands, pale gold to midnight, from Lydian to Locrian, with dashed lines where the third and the fifth are lowered.

Modal Sundial

One tonic, seven modes, from brightest to darkest. Each step darker lowers one note.Open →
Three approaches point to C, D minor and A minor, with E7 to A minor highlighted.

Signposts

the secondary function map
Explore approaches and resolutions in any key. Hear the chords and follow each voice on the piano staff.Open →
An illustrated crossword with TONE across and NOTE down, and a pencil ready to fill the remaining squares.

Crosswords

Thirteen puzzles to solve at your own pace, with definitions, optional hints and printable worksheets.Choose a crossword →

Put it into practice

Find drills and quizzes, grouped by chapter.

Go to Practice →