Topmusicanswers
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 the tonic of a mode?
- What is the tonic in D Dorian?
- What is the tonic pitch in music?
- How do you identify tonic in music?
What is the tonic of a mode?
Modern modes
| Mode | Tonic relative to major scale | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Ionian | I | C–D–E–F–G–A–B–C |
| Dorian | ii | D–E–F–G–A–B–C–D |
| Phrygian | iii | E–F–G–A–B–C–D–E |
| Lydian | IV | F–G–A–B–C–D–E–F |
What is the tonic in D Dorian?
1. dorian mode
| Note no. | Degree name |
|---|---|
| 1 | D is the tonic of the dorian mode |
| 2 | E is the supertonic of the dorian mode |
| 3 | F is the mediant of the dorian mode |
| 4 | G is the subdominant of the dorian mode |
What is the tonic pitch in music?
The tonic pitch in music is what we refer to as the beginning and ending note of the scale used to compose a piece of music. In this lesson, we'll learn more about tonic pitch and what relationship the tonic pitch has to the key of the piece.
How do you identify tonic in music?
We can find the tonic at the beginning of the melody, but also at the end of it. A common practice is to extract the scale of the melody. When no other pitch seems to stand out with the stability of the tonic, take the last note and arrange the other notes after it in ascending order. The first step is the tonic.
