What is the tonic triad?

What is the tonic triad?

• A. A diatonic triad built on the dominant pitch.
• B. A diatonic triad built on the tonic pitch.
• C. A triad built on the submediant pitch.
• D. A diminished triad built on the mediant.

Answer: (B)

The tonic triad is the triad built on the tonic pitch, the first degree of the key. It uses only notes from the scale and serves as the home chord that establishes the key center and provides a sense of rest. In major keys it sounds major; in minor keys it sounds minor. Because it sits on the tonic, it defines the key’s base, while triads built on other scale degrees—like the dominant, submediant, or a diminished mediant—do not function as that home chord.

The tonic triad is the triad built on the tonic pitch, the first degree of the key. It uses only notes from the scale and serves as the home chord that establishes the key center and provides a sense of rest. In major keys it sounds major; in minor keys it sounds minor. Because it sits on the tonic, it defines the key’s base, while triads built on other scale degrees—like the dominant, submediant, or a diminished mediant—do not function as that home chord.