noun / adjective
tonic
The first note of a musical scale, serving as its tonal center.
The melody comes to rest on the tonic.
Etymology
The Greek word developed a musical meaning of tone. The tonic is the governing tone that establishes the home position of a scale or key.
More examples
- In C major, C is the tonic.
- The teacher played the tonic chord before the exercise.
- The final phrase returned to the tonic.
Forms
tonic · tonics
Similar words
- keynote
- Another name for the tonal center or first note of a scale.
- root
- The foundation of a chord, which need not be the scale's first note.