tonic

Conventionally, the first note of a scale, though this is not always correct as the harmonic tendencies of the scale may favor some other note.

The term fundamental is sometimes used a synomyn for tonic, especially with respect to chords, which may be considered as scales of low cardinality, but this usage implies that the notes form a harmonic series and the first note is a power of two.

[from John Chalmers, Divisions of the Tetrachord]

See also root.

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