In the key of C major, which pitch is the tonic?

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Multiple Choice

In the key of C major, which pitch is the tonic?

The tonic is the home pitch that establishes the key’s center. In a major scale, it’s the first degree, the note melodies and cadences tend to rest on. In C major, the scale is C–D–E–F–G–A–B–C, so the home pitch is C. That note functions as the tonal center and provides a sense of resolution when a phrase ends. The other notes here play different roles: G is the dominant (the fifth degree) and tends to create tension that resolves back to the tonic; E is the mediant (the third degree); A is the submediant (the sixth degree).

The tonic is the home pitch that establishes the key’s center. In a major scale, it’s the first degree, the note melodies and cadences tend to rest on. In C major, the scale is C–D–E–F–G–A–B–C, so the home pitch is C. That note functions as the tonal center and provides a sense of resolution when a phrase ends. The other notes here play different roles: G is the dominant (the fifth degree) and tends to create tension that resolves back to the tonic; E is the mediant (the third degree); A is the submediant (the sixth degree).

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