ton·al / ˈtōnl/ • adj. of or relating to the tone of music, color, or writing: his ear for tonal color the poem's tonal lapses. ∎  of or relating to music written using conventional keys and harmony. ∎  Phonet. (of a language) expressing semantic differences by varying the intonation given to words or syllables of a similar sound.DERIVATIVES: ton·al·ly adv.

tonal.
1. Opposite to real in such technicalities as answer and sequence. See fugue.

2.  Of keys, as in tonal basis.

3.  Of tonality, i.e. the opposite of atonal, as in tonal comp.