põhitooni

Põhitoon, or tonic, is a concept in music theory that refers to the central pitch around which a piece is organized. It is typically the first degree of a diatonic scale and functions as the tonal center of a key. In tonal music, melodies and harmonies are built to gravitate toward and resolve to the põhitoon.

In a major key, the põhitoon is the tonic of the scale (for example, C in C major). In a minor key, the põhitoon is the tonic degree of the minor scale (for example, A in A minor). Chords built on the põhitoon form the tonic triad (I in major keys, i in minor keys) and establish the sense of home that listeners perceive as the key. Progressions often move away from other degrees and return to the põhitoon through cadences, reinforcing the key center.

In analysis and pedagogy, the concept helps explain tonal relationships, key signatures, and harmonic functions. The põhitoon serves as a reference point for intervals, scales, and melodic direction; it also guides tuning, intonation, and singing practice that aims to establish a stable pitch center.

Etymologically, the term combines the Estonian words for base or root (põhi) and tone (toon), reflecting its role as the foundational pitch of a key. While primarily used in Western tonal music, the idea of a central pitch exists in various musical systems, though the term põhitoon is most closely associated with tonal harmony in Estonian usage.