Can the dominant pitch appear more than the tonic pitch in a melody?

Can the dominant pitch appear more than the tonic pitch in a melody?

• A. No, not at all.
• B. Yes, but the tonic remains the final resting point.
• C. Only in minor keys.
• D. It must always precede the tonic.

Answer: (B)

In tonal melodies, the dominant (the fifth scale degree) creates tension that wants to resolve to the tonic (the first scale degree). The melody can include the dominant many times, and it’s common for the line to visit the dominant before returning to the tonic. What matters is the ending: the final resting point of the melody or its cadence is usually the tonic, which completes the sense of key. So the dominant can appear more than the tonic within a melody, but the tonic remains the concluding note. This applies to both major and minor keys. For example, in C major a melody might touch G (the dominant) several times and still end on C (the tonic).

In tonal melodies, the dominant (the fifth scale degree) creates tension that wants to resolve to the tonic (the first scale degree). The melody can include the dominant many times, and it’s common for the line to visit the dominant before returning to the tonic. What matters is the ending: the final resting point of the melody or its cadence is usually the tonic, which completes the sense of key. So the dominant can appear more than the tonic within a melody, but the tonic remains the concluding note. This applies to both major and minor keys. For example, in C major a melody might touch G (the dominant) several times and still end on C (the tonic).