What is Tonic and Dominant?
Tonic and dominant (I and V) form one of the most important relationships in western tonal music. We get this progression by taking the 1st and 5th notes of a scale and building chords on them using triads.
Tension and Resolution
As their names suggest, the Dominant tries to dominate and the tonic is restful (being the first and central note of the key/scale).
Dominant = tension (louder, more intense, vibrato)
Tonic = resolution (soft, light, pure)
As their names suggest, the Dominant tries to dominate and the tonic is restful (being the first and central note of the key/scale).
Dominant = tension (louder, more intense, vibrato)
Tonic = resolution (soft, light, pure)
Add Another 3rd - Dominant 7th
The Dominant chord is also often called a dominant 7th. This is created by adding another third to the Dominant triad, which produces the interval of a 7th from the bass note to top note. You’ve probably played a dominant 7th quite a lot, as you find it in Giuliani’s 120 Right Hand Studies (see below).
The Dominant chord is also often called a dominant 7th. This is created by adding another third to the Dominant triad, which produces the interval of a 7th from the bass note to top note. You’ve probably played a dominant 7th quite a lot, as you find it in Giuliani’s 120 Right Hand Studies (see below).
Inversions of seventh chords
Because seventh chords contain four notes, there are four possible positions (remember figured bass describe the intervals above the bass note):
1: Root position (7) - root in the bass
2: First Inversion (6/5) - 3rd in the bass
3: Second Inversion (4/3) - 5th in the bass
4: Third Inversion (4/2) - 7th in the bass
Because seventh chords contain four notes, there are four possible positions (remember figured bass describe the intervals above the bass note):
1: Root position (7) - root in the bass
2: First Inversion (6/5) - 3rd in the bass
3: Second Inversion (4/3) - 5th in the bass
4: Third Inversion (4/2) - 7th in the bass
Why does it matter?
More often than not, over 50% of a piece of music will be comprised of tonic and dominant chords. Some pieces (albeit simple ones) are comprised of ONLY tonic and dominant. Remember that Dominant represents tension and Tonic represents stability - this will influence your interpretation.
A great way to identify the two chords is to look at the bass line
A great way to identify the two chords is to look at the bass line
Other Pieces Featuring Tonic and Dominant
Tyrolienne by Henrik Rung
This work is entirely in C Major and uses exclusively the tonic and dominant chords C and G7.
This work is entirely in C Major and uses exclusively the tonic and dominant chords C and G7.
Andante by Carulli
This work is in C Major, though it changes to other keys as indicated (G Major and A Minor. Therefore you need to reorient the tonic and dominant chords to fit those new keys.
This work is in C Major, though it changes to other keys as indicated (G Major and A Minor. Therefore you need to reorient the tonic and dominant chords to fit those new keys.
