What is the term for the tonal center or 'home' note of a scale?

• A. Tonic
• B. Dominant
• C. Subdominant
• D. Mediant

Answer: (A)

The tonal center is the tonic—the home note around which a scale and its music are organized. It’s the first degree of the scale and gives the key its name. Melodies and chords tend to resolve firmly to this note, giving a sense of rest and finality. For example, in C major, C is the tonic, so pieces in that key gravitate toward and end on C, and the I chord built on C solidifies that home base.

The other terms describe different roles: the dominant is the fifth degree, which creates tension and usually resolves back to the tonic; the subdominant is the fourth degree, providing a path away from the tonic; the mediant is the third degree, a color tone within the scale, not the home base.