In the key of C what is the dominant pitch and what is the leading tone?

In the key of C what is the dominant pitch and what is the leading tone?

• A. B is the dominant pitch and G is the leading tone
• B. G is the leading tone and B is the dominant pitch
• C. G is the dominant pitch and B is the leading tone
• D. C is the dominant pitch and G is the leading tone

Answer: (C)

In tonal harmony, the dominant pitch is the fifth scale degree and the leading tone is the seventh scale degree; the leading tone tends to resolve upward to the tonic. In C major, the scale goes C, D, E, F, G, A, B. The fifth degree is G, and the seventh degree is B. So the dominant pitch is G and the leading tone is B. This aligns with how the dominant triad built on G (G–B–D) strongly resolves to the tonic chord C major, with B moving up to C. The other options mix up these roles: the seventh degree is B, not G, and the fifth degree is G, not C.

In tonal harmony, the dominant pitch is the fifth scale degree and the leading tone is the seventh scale degree; the leading tone tends to resolve upward to the tonic. In C major, the scale goes C, D, E, F, G, A, B. The fifth degree is G, and the seventh degree is B. So the dominant pitch is G and the leading tone is B. This aligns with how the dominant triad built on G (G–B–D) strongly resolves to the tonic chord C major, with B moving up to C. The other options mix up these roles: the seventh degree is B, not G, and the fifth degree is G, not C.