tonická

Tonická is a term used in Czech and Slovak music theory, functioning as the feminine form of the adjective tonický. It describes elements related to the tonic, the central pitch and key center of a tonal piece. In practice, tonická appears in phrases such as tonická nota (tonic note), tonická stupnica (tonic scale), tonická modulace (modulation to the tonic key), and tonická akord (I chord).

In tonal music, the tonic is the first scale degree and the primary center around which a key is organized. The tonická function signals rest, stability, and resolution within a key, guiding cadence points and harmonic direction. The tonická chord, built on the tonic degree, typically establishes the key and serves as a point of repose in progressions, often addressed as part of the I–IV–V–I family or similar cadential patterns. Tonická harmony interacts with other functions such as dominant and subdominant, creating movement toward and away from the tonic.

Usage and context: the concept of tonická spans major, minor, and modal frameworks, adapting to different scales and tonal centers while retaining its core idea—the center and resting point of the music. In musicology and pedagogy, tonická is used to discuss how pieces establish and resolve around the tonic, describe the tonal relationships within a key, and analyze cadence strategies. The English equivalent term is tonic, with tonická serving as the language-specific label for tonic-related concepts.