basistone

Basistone is a term sometimes used in music to refer to the fundamental or lowest-pitched note within a chord. In tonal music, the root of a chord is typically considered its basistone. For example, in a C major chord, which consists of the notes C, E, and G, the note C is the basistone. When a chord is played in its root position, the basistone is the lowest sounding note.

However, the concept of basistone can become more nuanced when considering inversions. In a first inversion of a C major chord (E, G, C), the lowest note is E. While E is the actual lowest sounding note, C is still considered the basistone because it is the root of the chord. In a second inversion (G, C, E), the lowest note is G, but C remains the basistone. The term "basistone" can also be used in contexts beyond Western tonal harmony, though its most common application is within that theoretical framework. Understanding the basistone is crucial for analyzing chord progressions and understanding harmonic function. It is the foundational element upon which the rest of the chord is built.