Music theory regarding scale degrees

The Hierarchy of Scale Degrees (00:00 - 01:15)

• Discussion of the Tonic ($1^{st}$ degree) as the foundation and 'home base' of music.

• Introduction to the Supertonic ($2^{nd}$ degree) and its restless energy.

The Emotional Core (01:15 - 02:30)

• Exploration of the Mediant ($3^{rd}$ degree) and its role in defining major versus minor tonalities.

• Breakdown of the 'Sub' degrees: the Subdominant ($4^{th}$) and the Submediant ($6^{th}$).

Tension and Resolution (02:30 - 04:00)

• Analysis of the Dominant ($5^{th}$ degree) and why it holds the most power for creating musical tension.

• Explanation of the Leading Tone ($7^{th}$ degree) and its desperate need to resolve back to the Tonic.