root note
Scale's home base
The root note is the fundamental pitch on which a chord or scale is built—the note that gives the chord its name.
In a C major chord, C is the root note; the other notes stack above it.
Musicians also call it simply the root.
The root note anchors harmony and determines how we name and hear chords: The bass player emphasized the root note on the downbeat.
- tonicInvigorating medicinal drink
- fundamentalForming the base
- bassDeep pitch or fish
- keyLock-opening device
- pitchFrequency of sound
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