The Forbidden Sound of History

Known as the Devil in Music, the tritone is an interval that sounds unsettling and unresolved to the human ear. For centuries, this specific dissonant sound was reportedly shunned in Western religious compositions.

This interval spans exactly three whole tones, creating a jarring resonance that feels incomplete. Because it defies traditional harmonic harmony, medieval theorists allegedly labeled it diabolus in musica. Despite its ominous reputation, you can hear it today in everything from heavy metal riffs to the dramatic sirens of emergency vehicles. It remains a powerful tool for composers who want to evoke tension or danger.