Tonic water has nothing to do with “tonic” of music theory, but there are jokes.
“Tonic water is just water that’s a little more stable than subdominant or dominant water…and way more stable than leading tone water…right? #musichumor” was posted on Facebook by Jon Ross on October 11, 2014. “Tonic water? Where’s the dominant water????” was posted on Twitter by Chris Broene on April 17, 2018. “Tonic water implies the existence of Dominant water” was posted on Twitter by Things for Granted Taker on May 4, 2021. “Tonic water implies the existence of dominant water” was posted on Twitter by strega nona on June 22, 2021. “tonic water implies the existence of mediant water and dominant water” was posted on Twitter by totally regular guy on July 17, 2023.
“Dominant chords imply the existence of submissive chords” is a related joke.
Wikipedia: Tonic water
Tonic water (or Indian tonic water) is a carbonated soft drink in which quinine is dissolved. Originally used as a prophylactic against malaria, nowadays tonic water usually has a significantly lower quinine content and is often sweetened. It is consumed for its distinctive bitter flavor and is frequently used in mixed drinks, particularly in gin and tonic.
Wikipedia: Degree (music)
In music theory, the scale degree is the position of a particular note on a scale relative to the tonic—the first and main note of the scale from which each octave is assumed to begin. Degrees are useful for indicating the size of intervals and chords and whether an interval is major or minor.
Facebook
Jon Ross
October 11, 2014 at 9:55 AM ·
Tonic water is just water that’s a little more stable than subdominant or dominant water…and way more stable than leading tone water…right? #musichumor
Twitter
Chris Broene
@Chris_Broene
Tonic water? Where’s the dominant water????
5:40 PM · Apr 17, 2018
Twitter
Michael
@michae1becker
Contemplating tonic water and possible variations.
Both dominant water and subdominant water sound like energy drinks for the BDSM crowd.
I don’t know where this train of thought ends.
9:56 PM · Sep 6, 2018
Twitter
Zet💙💛
@Zet237
If there is Tonic Water, is there also Subdominant Water and Dominant Water? 🤔
6:17 AM · May 5, 2020
Twitter
Things for Granted Taker
@mattmangels
Tonic water implies the existence of Dominant water
2:30 AM · May 4, 2021
Twitter
Email
@boan_bone
Tonic water <<<< Dominant Water
8:58 PM · May 12, 2021
Twitter
strega nona
@maggiesicilia
Tonic water implies the existence of dominant water
7:57 PM · Jun 22, 2021
Twitter
Elyiss the Arcane
@Eliyqz387
Stupid question of the day during my lunch shift: does tonic water imply the existence of dominant water? Subtonic water?? Supertonic water?? Pre-dominant water???
1:11 PM · Aug 24, 2021
Tiwtter
Gesellschaft für Musiktheorie
@gmusiktheorie
Tonic Water = relieves tension
Dominant Water = builds tension
Subdominant Water = aaaaww
12:55 PM · Oct 24, 2022
Twitter
Francesca Pallopides
@FPallopides
Wait if there’s tonic water, does that mean there is dominant water too? subdominant water?? where can I get some
2:16 PM · Mar 9, 2023
Twitter
totally regular guy
@allofthistosay
tonic water implies the existence of mediant water and dominant water
2:11 AM · Jul 17, 2023