Degree (music) - Major and Minor Scales

Major and Minor Scales

Degree Name Meaning
1st Tonic Tonal center, note of final resolution
2nd Supertonic One step above the tonic
3rd Mediant Midway between tonic and dominant
4th Subdominant Lower dominant
5th Dominant 2nd in importance to the tonic
6th Submediant Lower mediant, halfway between tonic and subdominant
7th Leading tone Melodically strong affinity for and leads to tonic
8th Subtonic One whole step below tonic

The degrees of the traditional major and minor scales may be identified several ways:

  • the first, second, (major or minor) third, fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh degrees of the scale;
  • by Arabic numerals (1, 2, 3, 4 ...), sometimes with carets above them ;
  • by Roman numerals (I, II, III, IV ...); and
  • in English, by the names and function: tonic, supertonic, mediant, subdominant, dominant, submediant, leading note (leading tone in the United States) and tonic again.
These names are derived from a scheme where the tonic note is the 'center'. Supertonic and subtonic are, respectively, one step above and one step below the tonic; mediant and submediant are each a third above and below the tonic, and dominant and subdominant are a fifth above and below the tonic.
Subtonic is used when the interval between it and the tonic in the upper octave is a whole step; leading note when that interval is a half step.
  • in English, by the "moveable Do" Solfege system, which allows a person to name each scale degree with a single syllable while singing.

Read more about this topic:  Degree (music)

Famous quotes containing the words major, minor and/or scales:

    Our basic ideas about how to parent are encrusted with deeply felt emotions and many myths. One of the myths of parenting is that it is always fun and games, joy and delight. Everyone who has been a parent will testify that it is also anxiety, strife, frustration, and even hostility. Thus most major parenting- education formats deal with parental emotions and attitudes and, to a greater or lesser extent, advocate that the emotional component is more important than the knowledge.
    Bettye M. Caldwell (20th century)

    Even a minor event in the life of a child is an event of that child’s world and thus a world event.
    Gaston Bachelard (1884–1962)

    For these have governed in our lives,
    And see how men have warred.
    The Cross, the Crown, the Scales may all
    As well have been the Sword.
    Robert Frost (1874–1963)