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tonic chord

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  • Mustafa Gorczany
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The Meaning of Tonic Chord in Music

In music, the tonic chord refers to the chord built on the first scale degree of a diatonic scale. It is considered the most significant chord in a piece of music and serves as the tonal center or final resolution tone ). The tonic chord is commonly used in the final cadence in tonal classical music, popular music, and traditional music ). It is often associated with a sense of stability and acts as a point of rest or resolution within a musical composition.

The tonic chord is named after the tonic note, which is the first note of a scale. For example, in the key of C major, the tonic chord would be the C major chord. The triad formed on the tonic note is the most important chord in these styles of music ). In Roman numeral analysis, the tonic chord is typically symbolized by the Roman numeral "I" if it is major and by "i" if it is minor ).

The tonic chord is significant because it establishes the tonality of a piece and provides a sense of home or stability. It is often used as a starting point for chord progressions and is frequently returned to throughout a composition to create a sense of resolution. The tonic chord can be contrasted with other chords, such as the dominant chord, which creates tension and a desire to resolve back to the tonic.

It's worth noting that the concept of the tonic chord can vary depending on the musical context and the specific harmonic conventions being used. In some cases, other chords may also have tonic function, such as the vi and iii chords. Additionally, the meaning of tonic can be broadened to refer to a "main," "central," or "focus" tone or chord, which may be achieved rhythmically rather than harmonically.

Overall, the tonic chord plays a crucial role in establishing the tonality and providing a sense of stability and resolution in music.

The chord that is based upon the tonic of a key or scale, the I chord.

Popular questions related to tonic chord

A tonic note refers to the first note within a scale. Generally, the tonic note is the note for which the scale or chord is named. For example, in the C major scale, the first note would be C, which would make C the tonic note.

1st – The Tonic It's also sometimes called the keynote, as this note tells us what key we're in. The tonic is the first note of any diatonic scale. It's where we get the name of each scale from. It's also where the name 'tonic triad' comes from, as it's a triad chord based on the tonic.

The tonic chord in a given key is formed by using the 1 and 3 and 5 notes of the scale in whatever key you are in. However, in chord theory, the Major chords that work in that key are the one, four and five Major (I IV and V) chords.

The tonic is the root chord of the key. So, in a C major key, the tonic chord is C major. In every key, the tonic chord plays the crucial role of establishing the tonal center of the composition.

For example, in both C major and C minor, the tonic is C. However, relative keys (two different scales that share a key signature) have different tonics. For example, C major and A minor share a key signature that feature no sharps or flats, despite having different tonic pitches (C and A, respectively).

Scale Degrees. Each note of a scale has a special name, called a scale degree. The first (and last) note is called the tonic. The fifth note is called the dominant.

Although there are seven different chords, they function in only three different ways, i.e. stable/resting (Tonic), active (Dominant), or half-active (Subdominant).

Albert's reply: The tonic is the first note of any scale. If the key is C major, then C is the tonic. If you're in A-flat major, then A-flat is the tonic. Since the tonic is the main note in any key, it's sometimes also called the key note.

The key of G major has the G note as its tonic, or, first note of the scale. Three or more notes played simultaneously are called a chord. The three most important chords in G major are G-B-D, C-D-E, and D-E-F#.

The scale-degree chords of F major are: Tonic – F major. Supertonic – G minor. Mediant – A minor.

using differences in tone or pitch to distinguish between words that are otherwise phonemically identical: a tonic language. pertaining to tone or accent in speech. Phonetics. (of a syllable) bearing the principal stress or accent, usually accompanied by a change in pitch.

first degree The tonic. The tonic is the first degree of the scale. Every scale has a tonic, whether it is the natural minor scale, the A major scale degrees, or the minor pentatonic scale degrees. The tonic note defines the name of the scale and also serves as the tonal center of gravity for the scale.

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