In the key of C major, which note is the dominant?

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Multiple Choice

In the key of C major, which note is the dominant?

In a major key, the dominant is the fifth scale degree, which creates the strongest pull back to the tonic. In C major, the scale is C–D–E–F–G–A–B–C, so the fifth note is G. That makes G the dominant note in this key. The dominant functions to drive resolution to the tonic, often via a G-based chord that wants to move to C. The other notes listed—C is the tonic, D and E are other degrees—do not fulfill that dominant role. So the note that serves as the dominant here is G.

In a major key, the dominant is the fifth scale degree, which creates the strongest pull back to the tonic. In C major, the scale is C–D–E–F–G–A–B–C, so the fifth note is G. That makes G the dominant note in this key. The dominant functions to drive resolution to the tonic, often via a G-based chord that wants to move to C. The other notes listed—C is the tonic, D and E are other degrees—do not fulfill that dominant role. So the note that serves as the dominant here is G.

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