Tonicisation
The brief treatment of a non-tonic chord as a temporary tonic through the use of its own dominant or leading note.
Category
keys
Pronunciation
/ˌtɒnɪsaɪˈzeɪʃən/
Origin
From tonic + Greek suffix
Length
202 words · 2 min read
About Tonicisation
Tonicisation occurs when a composer momentarily makes a chord other than the tonic sound like a local point of rest by preceding it with its own dominant harmony. Unlike modulation, which establishes a new key for a sustained passage, tonicisation is fleeting — the music quickly returns to the original key.
More keys terms
Diatonic
View all keysterms →Pertaining to the seven notes of a major or natural minor scale without chromatic alteration.
Relative Major and MinorA pair of keys — one major, one minor — sharing the same key signature
ModeA type of scale defined by a specific pattern of tones and semitones, historically derived from medieval church music.
SubdominantThe fourth degree of a scale, forming a key harmonic pillar alongside the tonic and dominant.
TonicThe first and most important note of a key, serving as the central point of rest and resolution.
See Also
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v1 · 10/04/2026Browse all terms →