põhitone

Põhitone is an Estonian term that translates to "main tone" or "root tone" in English. It is a fundamental concept in music theory, particularly when discussing scales and chords. The põhitone refers to the central note of a musical scale, from which the other notes are derived and to which they relate. It is also the lowest note of a triad, the most basic chord structure.

In a major or minor scale, the põhitone is the first note, often called the tonic. For example, in the C major scale (C-D-E-F-G-A-B-C), C is the põhitone. All other notes in the scale are perceived as having a specific relationship to this central note, creating a sense of resolution and stability when the music returns to it.

Similarly, when analyzing chords, the põhitone is the root of the chord. A C major chord, for instance, consists of the notes C, E, and G. The põhitone is C. The harmony of the chord is built upon this root note, with the other notes (the third and the fifth) creating its specific quality (major, minor, diminished, etc.). Understanding the põhitone is crucial for comprehending musical structure, harmony, and melody.