Built on the first pitch or degree of the blues scale, the tonic, known also as the root or fundamental, is the center of the tonal gravity of the key of the music we are performing, writing in, analyzing whatever. So much in our lives revolves around tension and release, like getting hungry and finding something to eat, same with our music. We simply establish a musical environment, say a blues tune in C, then create tension by simply moving away from the tonic C to other non tonic musical pitches, say F and G. The cool thing is that where the tune goes depends on what the artist chooses. In the blues world, the two most common destinations are to move from the tonic to Four and / or Five. Motion to Four creates tension, motion to Five increases the tension. Returning to the tonic releases this tension. This all comes perfectly together in the 12 bar 1, 4, 5 blues form. With this in mind here are a few blues licks that showcase the tonic as the center of tonal gravity. Example 1, C blues, setting up the tonic, major tonality. Whompin on the tonic.
Example 2, same basic idea as example 1 with variations, in the minor tonality.
Example 3, octave to tonic leap rhythmically starts up the lick, setting the tone of the idea.
Example 4, same basic idea as example 3, with variations in the minor tonality.
Example 5, my favorite triad blues lick, very strong tonic gravity.
Example 5, same idea, minor environment.
Check out the tonic in other musical capacities.
| equal temperament system |
| diatonic chords |
| common chord progressions |
"If you are going through hell, keep going."
Sir Winston Churchill