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Tonic Harmony

Definition

Tonic harmony refers to chords or progressions based on the tonic, which is considered home or resting point in music. It provides a sense of stability and resolution.

Analogy

Imagine you're taking a long road trip, and after hours of driving, you finally arrive at your cozy home where everything feels familiar and comfortable. That feeling of being at home represents tonic harmony in music - it's like finding musical rest after experiencing different harmonies along your musical journey.

Related terms

Dominant Harmony: Dominant harmony refers to chords or progressions built on the fifth scale degree (the dominant) that create tension and lead back to tonic harmony.

Subdominant Harmony: Subdominant harmony involves chords or progressions built on the fourth scale degree (the subdominant). It adds stability but also some mild tension compared to tonic harmony.

Predominant Function: The predominant function refers to a chord or harmonic progression that creates tension and prepares the listener for the dominant function. It typically occurs before the dominant chord in a musical piece.