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Glite Dictionary
tonic key

tonic key

8.1
The main note and scale that a piece of music returns to
  • noun
  • /ˈtɒnɪk kiː/
  • Specialized
translation icon : tonalidad tónica
  • The symphony was written in the key of G major, making G its tonic key.

Examples

  • During the sonata, the music repeatedly returns to the tonic key after exploring others.

  • Musicians must first determine the tonic key to understand the structure of the composition.

  • The piece is in the tonic key of C major.

  • What is the tonic key for this composition?

  • The piece starts in C major, establishing the tonic key before exploring other harmonies.

  • Composers often return to the tonic key to create a sense of resolution in their music.

  • A strong melody is often built around the tonic key, making it the focal point of the composition.

Synonyms

key
vstonic key
  • Specialized
38 6.0

A set of notes that forms the main sound of a song

is the single principal tonal center around which the music is organized
tonic
vstonic key
  • Specialized
1 8.0

The first and main note of a musical scale

is the piece's principal tonal center rather than a single scale note
home key
vstonic key
  • Specialized
6.8

The main set of notes a piece of music returns to

is the work's central tonal reference rather than the tendency to resolve

Surface Forms

tonic key singular
tonic keys plural

Morphology

tonic + key

The meaning is directly derivable from the constituents: 'tonic' (the home note) and 'key' (the tonality/home pitch centre) both point to the tonal centre, so 'tonic key' simply denotes the principal key of a piece. Although musical terminology is somewhat technical, the composition of the two meanings is transparent and predictable, so a learner who knows both words can infer the MWE's meaning.

Etymology

Tonic key paints a simple picture: the tonic is the 'home' note of a piece and the key is like its musical house, so the music keeps coming back there. That's why tonic key means the main key or musical center of the piece.