 Notes and chords other than the tonic in a piece create varying degrees of tension, resolved when the tonic note or chord returns.The key may be in the major or minor mode, though musicians assume major when this is not specified, e.g., "This piece is in C" implies that the key of the song is C Major.Popular songs are usually in a key, and so is classical music during the common practice period, around 1650–1900.