Tonic
The first and most important note of a key, serving as the central point of rest and resolution.
Category
keys
Pronunciation
/ˈtɒnɪk/
Origin
Greek (tonikos, of tension)
Length
209 words · 2 min read
About Tonic
The tonic is the gravitational centre of tonal music — the note towards which all other notes in the key are pulled and around which the entire harmonic structure revolves. In the key of C major, the tonic is C; in G minor, it is G.
More keys terms
Tonicisation
View all keysterms →The brief treatment of a non-tonic chord as a temporary tonic through the use of its own dominant or leading note.
TranspositionMoving a passage of music up or down in pitch by a fixed interval
ModulationThe process of changing from one key to another within a piece
Relative keyA major and minor key that share the same key signature but have different tonics.
Key SignatureThe set of sharps or flats at the beginning of a staff indicating the key
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v1 · 10/04/2026Browse all terms →