TONE' The term 'NOTE ON A SCALE' can be summarized by the three-letter solution 'TONE'. A TONE is a musical note that is part of a scale, which is a set of notes arranged in ascending or descending order. The notes of a scale are used to create melodies and chords, and each note has its own unique sound. In music theory, tones are often referred to as 'pitches', and they are the building blocks of all music.