Degree (music)

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For other types of degree, see Degree

In music theory, a scale degree is the name of a particular note of a scale in relation to the tonic (the note of the scale that is considered the most important). The degrees of the traditional major and minor scales may be identified several ways:

the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh degrees of the scale;
by Arabic numerals (1,2,3...), sometimes with carets above them ([\hat 1, \hat 2, \hat 3...]); and
in English, by the names tonic, supertonic, mediant, subdominant, dominant, submediant, (subtonic or leading tone).

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 one third above and below the tonic, and dominant and subdominant are one 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 tone when that interval is a half step.

in English, by the moveable Do system, which allows a person to name each scale degree with a single syllable while singing.

Degree (music)

See also