Tonic

Definition

The tonic is the first note of a scale and serves as the home base or central pitch of a musical key. It establishes the tonality and provides a sense of resolution, stability, and rest. This concept connects deeply with embellishing tones, cadences, predominant functions, chords, minor scales, texture types, and the degrees of major scales.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The tonic is represented by the Roman numeral 'I' in chord symbols and is essential in establishing the key of a piece.
2. In both major and minor scales, the tonic serves as the starting and ending point for melodies, providing a sense of direction.
3. Tonic triads consist of the root (tonic), third, and fifth notes from the scale, forming the primary chord that reinforces tonality.
4. In harmonic progression, movement towards the tonic creates a feeling of resolution, while movement away creates tension that needs resolution.
5. In minor scales, the tonic still plays a crucial role but may include alterations like raised seventh degrees to enhance leading tones.

Review Questions

• How does the tonic function within different types of cadences?
  • The tonic is critical in cadences as it provides resolution. In perfect authentic cadences, for example, the progression moves from the dominant (V) to the tonic (I), creating a strong feeling of closure. Other cadences also emphasize returning to the tonic, which helps establish a key center and gives a satisfying end to phrases.
• Discuss how the role of the tonic differs in major versus minor scales.
  • In major scales, the tonic typically has a bright and stable quality due to its natural third interval. Conversely, in minor scales, while it still represents stability, it may include altered notes like a raised seventh to create stronger resolutions back to the tonic. This nuanced difference adds emotional depth and variety to compositions in different keys.
• Analyze how the tonic interacts with embellishing tones within musical textures.
  • The tonic interacts with embellishing tones by providing a foundation for melodic development. Embellishing tones, such as passing tones or neighbor tones, typically resolve to or originate from the tonic. This relationship enriches texture by creating motion around stable points, enhancing melodic lines while consistently reinforcing the sense of tonality centered around the tonic.

Related terms

Dominant:

The fifth scale degree of a diatonic scale, which creates tension that typically resolves to the tonic.

Subdominant:

The fourth scale degree of a diatonic scale that often leads to the dominant and creates movement towards the tonic.

Cadence:

A musical phrase that concludes a section or piece, often creating a sense of resolution or pause at the tonic.