German word

Dur

Pronunciation

IPA/duːɐ̯/

Meaning

  • neuter nounmajor key

Example

Das Dur der Melodie wirkt warm.

The melody's major key sounds warm.

Illustration for Dur (major key)

More examples

Viele Popsongs stehen hauptsächlich in Dur.

Many pop songs are mainly in a major key.

Core concept

A musical home centered on a bright, firm-sounding third above its root.

Common phrases

  • Tonart Dur

    major key

  • in Dur

    in a major key

  • Dur-Tonleiter

    major scale

Similar words

Moll: A minor musical key with a dark and inward-sounding character.
Tonart: The tonal system organizing a piece around a central pitch.
Tonleiter: A stepwise set of notes that provides material for melodies and chords.

Definition in German

Dur bezeichnet eine Tonart oder Tonleiter mit großer Terz, die einen hellen, stabilen Klang erzeugt.

Word origin

German Dur comes from Italian duro 'hard', ultimately from Latin durus, in the historical contrast between major and minor.

Usage tips

  • Dur is a neuter noun, so standard phrasing includes 'das Dur' and 'in C-Dur'.

Other meanings

  • major scalenoun

Opposites

Related words

  • Dur-Tonleitermajor scalenoun
  • Dur-Akkordmajor chordnoun

Word lists with this word