Expansion of the Tonic

Tonic expansion is a concept for classical music where key changes are essential to the musical structure. That doesn't really happen in the music of The Stokes.

1. How do you expand tonic?
2. Which is the tonic?
3. What is tonic in theory?

How do you expand tonic?

Expanding the Tonic Area • Often a phrase begins with a tonic expansion. Tonic expansions typically include alternating tonic and dominant chords, often in inversions. The most common way to expand the PD area is to combine more than one PD in a series.

Which is the tonic?

Tonic, also called keynote, in music, the first note (degree) of any diatonic (e.g., major or minor) scale. It is the most important degree of the scale, serving as the focus for both melody and harmony.

What is tonic in theory?

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. The fourth note is called the subdominant. Notice that the subdominant is the same distance below the tonic as the dominant is above it (a generic fifth).