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Tonal Center in Music: Harmonic Tension, Harmonic Resolution
If the new chord, G major, is supposed to be the new tonic, how did the old chord, C major, yield its power as tonal centre?
The answer is, C major did not yield its power. The tonal centre in music, once firmly established, does not easily yield its power.
The notes C and E in the C major chord do not provide any significant propulsion to resolve to the root note G in the new chord, G major.
In fact, when you progress from C major to G major, your brain senses exactly the opposite of “harmonic resolution.” It correctly senses that the chord change from C major to G major has created harmonic tension—not resolved it.
How does it feel? It feels unstable, restless. Your brain expects resolution back to the C major chord. (The cat wants back in.)