twopitched

Twopitched is a term used in music theory and ethnomusicology to describe musical textures, instruments, or tunings that emphasize two pitches. The designation can apply to sound sources that present a dyadic pitch class simultaneously as a basis for harmony, to voices or instruments that alternate between two fixed pitches, or to systems in which melodies center on a two-note interval. As a descriptive label, it denotes a restricted or dyadic pitch structure rather than a full polyphonic tessellation.

Twopitched is not a standardized term; it is used mainly in analytical or pedagogical contexts. Its meaning varies by author, but it generally indicates a pitch organization built around two tones rather than a full chordal or melodic spectrum.

In practice, twopitched descriptions appear in discussions of drone-based music, two-note motifs, or two-tone textures where one or two tones provide the tonal anchor while other musical elements move. It is often contrasted with monophony, polyphony, or electronic textures that emphasize broader pitch collections.

Limitations and critiques: Because the label is informal, it may obscure other important parameters such as rhythm, timbre, microtonal intervals, or timbral layering that contribute to the music's character. Some scholars prefer more precise terms like dyad, drone, or two-note harmony.

See also: dyad; drone; two-tone music; heterophony; polyphony; tonal center.