Degree (music) - Wikipedia

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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Degree_(music)

Degree (music)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

In music theory, a scale degree is the name

given to a particular note of a scale[3] to
specify its position relative to the tonic (the
main note of the scale). The tonic is
considered to be the first degree of the scale,
from which each octave is assumed to begin.

Scale degree names[1] (C major scale)

Play ).

Any musical scale may be thought to have

degrees. However, the notion of scale degree
is most commonly applied to scales in which
a tonic is specified by definition, such as the
7-tone diatonic scales (e.g. the C-major scale
Scale degree roman numerals.[2] Play
CDEFGAB, in which C is the tonic).
As for the 12-tone chromatic scale, the
selection of a first degree is possible in theory, but arbitrary and not meaningful, because typically
all the notes of a chromatic scale have the same importance.
The expression scale step is sometimes used as a synonym of scale degree, but it may also refer,
perhaps more properly and less ambiguously, to the distance, or interval, between two successive
scale degrees (see Steps and skips). Indeed, the terms whole step and half step are commonly used
as interval names. The number of scale degrees and the distance between them together define a
scale.

Major and minor scales

The degrees of the traditional major and minor scales may be identified several ways:
the first, second, (major or minor) third, fourth, fifth, major or minor sixth, and major or
minor seventh degrees of the scale;
by Arabic numerals (1, 2, 3, 4 ...), sometimes with carets above them (
);
by Roman numerals (I, II, III, IV ...);
the diatonic mode which starts on the degree, and contains all the notes in the key
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

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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Degree_(music)

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.

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Degree

Name
(Diatonic
Function)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Degree_(music)

Corresponding Corresponding
mode (major
mode (minor
key)
key)

Meaning

Note
Note
(in C (in C
major) minor)

1st

Tonic

Ionian

Aeolian

Tonal center, note

C
of final resolution

2nd

Supertonic

Dorian

Locrian

One whole step

above the tonic

Ionian

Midway between
tonic and
dominant, (in
E
minor key) root of
relative major key

3rd

Mediant

Phrygian

4th

Subdominant

Lydian

Dorian

Lower dominant,
same interval
below tonic as
F
dominant is above
tonic

5th

Dominant

Mixolydian

Phrygian

2nd in importance
G
to the tonic

Lydian

Lower mediant,
midway between
tonic and
A
subdominant, (in
major key) root of
relative minor key

C'

6th

Submediant

Aeolian

7th

Leading
tone(in Major
scale) /
Subtonic (in
Natural Minor
Scale)

Locrian

Mixolydian

Melodically
strong affinity for
and leads to
tonic/One half
B
step below tonic
in Major scale and
whole step in
Natural minor.

1st
(8th)

Tonic (octave)

Ionian

Aeolian

Tonal center, note

C'
of final resolution

See also
Tonality

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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Degree_(music)

Music education

Sources
1. Benward & Saker (2003). Music: In Theory and Practice, Vol. I, p.32-3. Seventh Edition. ISBN
978-0-07-294262-0. "Scale degree names: Each degree of the seven-tone diatonic scale has a name that
relates to its function. The major scale and all three forms of the minor scale share these terms."
2. Jonas, Oswald (1982). Introduction to the Theory of Heinrich Schenker (1934: Das Wesen des
musikalischen Kunstwerks: Eine Einfhrung in Die Lehre Heinrich Schenkers), p.22. Trans. John
Rothgeb. ISBN 0-582-28227-6. Shown all uppercase.
3. Kolb, Tom (2005). Music Theory for Guitarists, p.16. ISBN 0-634-06651-X.

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Categories: Scale degrees
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