Scale Degrees

Each note of a scale has a name called a scale degree.

The first note is called the tonic.

The fifth note is called the dominant.

The fourth note is called the subdominant.

The subdominant is the same distance below the tonic as the dominant is above it.

The prefix “sub” is Latin for “under” or “beneath”

The third note is called the mediant because it is in the middle of the tonic and dominant.

The sixth note is called the submediant because it is in the middle of the upper tonic and the subdominant.

“Super” is Latin for “above.”

The scale degrees for the first six notes are the same for both major and minor scales, the seventh one is different.

If the seventh note is a half step below the tonic, it is called a leading tone.

Leading tones occur in major, harmonic minor and melodic minor.

In natural minor, the seventh note is a whole step below the tonic. It is called a subtonic.

A number with a caret may also be used to indicate a scale degree.