I have a heck of a time understanding the distinction between these 2 terms.
I'm hoping someone can offer a simple example of the tonic differing from the root and why it is so.
Thanks in advance!
:)
Don
Root is usually used when referring to a chord
Tonic is usually used when referring to a key
So, the primary chords in the key of C Major are C, F, and G, the "root" of the F chord is "F" and the "tonic" of the key is "C"
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That's great, Alan, thanks very much.
If anyone has a web resource of simple concise definitions (like this one^) of music terminology, I'd appreciate if they could post it.
:)
Don
Root is usually used when referring to a chord
Tonic is usually used when referring to a key
So, the primary chords in the key of C Major are C, F, and G, the "root" of the F chord is "F" and the "tonic" of the key is "C"
Is that why a harmonica player would play the iv of a key? So the root is the 4th of the key?
No, the root is the "base" of the chord.
There are lots of different types of harmonicas... but the most common (and least expensive) is a 'diatonic' harp, which plays a major scale. When you're playing blues, you want a blues scale - in the key of C, that would be C-Eb-F-Gb-G-Bb. There aren't any major keys that contain those notes.
But it's pretty easy to 'bend' a note on a harmonica, which will lower it by a half step. If you're playing blues in C, using a C harp would mean you'd have to bend E, G, and B. Trouble is, you can only bend a 'draw' note (one you play by inhaling). On a C harp, the G is a 'blow' note... which you can't bend.
But if you use a harp that's in the key of the IV chord, the notes you need to adjust are draw notes. So most harp players will play that way - it's called second position, or "cross harp".
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