The Common Practice Period refers to the era of Western classical music from approximately 1650 to 1900, characterized by a set of musical conventions and techniques that were widely used during this time.
Think of the Common Practice Period as a well-established fashion trend that lasted for centuries. Just like how certain clothing styles become popular and define an era, the Common Practice Period defined a specific period in music history with its own unique characteristics.
Tonic: The tonic is the first note or chord of a key, serving as the home base or point of resolution in a piece of music.
Dominant: The dominant is the fifth scale degree or chord in a key, providing tension and leading back to the tonic.
Subdominant: The subdominant is the fourth scale degree or chord in a key, creating stability and preparing for harmonic motion.
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