How would you define "tonal" music?

Tonal music is characterized by its adherence to the principles of major-minor tonality, which means it is structured around a central note, or tonic, and employs scales that include major and minor forms. This system creates a hierarchy of pitches with certain tones having more importance or stability than others, allowing for the development of melodies and harmonies that resolve in predictable ways.

The use of major and minor scales provides a framework that influences the emotional and structural components of the music, leading to recognizable chord progressions and tonal relationships. In contrast, music that is solely based on modal scales lacks this major-minor distinction, and music without a key center does not adhere to the tonal system, navigating freely without a sense of resolution or grounding in a particular tonality. Additionally, atonal music pushes against the traditional boundaries of tonal structures entirely, seeking expression outside of established key centers. Therefore, defining tonal music in terms of major-minor tonality encapsulates the essence of its foundation and organization in musical composition.