Tonic
also called “home note”also called “root of the key”also called “the one”
The short version
The home note of a key — the one that feels finished.
In C major, C is the tonic. Melodies can go anywhere, but landing on the tonic feels like arriving.
Why you'd careEnding a phrase on the tonic sounds settled; ending elsewhere leaves the listener hanging — a deliberate tool.
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