Degree (music)

In music theory, the term scale degree refers to the position of a particular note on

a scale[1] relative to the tonic, the first and main note of the scale from which
each octave is assumed to begin. Degrees are useful for indicating the size
of intervals and chords and whether they are major or minor.
In the most general sense, the scale degree is the number given to each step of the
scale, usually starting with 1 for tonic. Defining it like this implies that a tonic is
specified. For instance, the 7-tone diatonic scale may become the major scale once
the proper degree has been chosen as tonic (e.g. the C-major scale C–D–E–F–G–
A–B, in which C is the tonic). If the scale has no tonic, the starting degree must be
chosen arbitrarily. In set theory, for instance, the 12 degrees of the chromatic
scale usually are numbered starting from C=0, the twelve pitch classes being
numbered from 0 to 11.
In a more specific sense, scale degrees are given names that indicate their
particular function within the scale (see table below). This definition implies a
functional scale, as is the case in tonal music.
This example gives the names of the functions of the scale degrees in the seven
The term scale step is sometimes used synonymously with scale degree, but it
may alternatively refer to the distance between two successive and adjacent
scale degrees (see steps and skips). The terms "whole step" and "half step" are
commonly used as interval names (though "whole scale step" or "half scale step"
are not used). The number of scale degrees and the distance between them
together define the scale they are in.
In Schenkerian analysis, "scale degree" (or "scale step") translates Schenker's
German Stufe, denoting "a chord having gained structural significance"
(see Schenkerian analysis#Harmony).
 Contents

 1Major and minor scales

 2Scale degree names
 3See also
 4Sources

Major and minor scales[edit]

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

 by their ordinal numbers, as the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, or seventh
degrees of the scale, sometimes raised or lowered;
 by Arabic numerals (1, 2, 3, 4 …), as in the Nashville Number System, sometimes
with circumflexes ( ,  ,  ,   …);
 by Roman numerals (I, II, III, IV …);[3]
 by the English name for their
function: tonic, supertonic, mediant, subdominant, dominant, submediant, subtonic o
r leading note (leading tone in the United States), and tonic again. These names are
derived from a scheme where the tonic note is the 'centre'. Then the supertonic and
subtonic are, respectively, a second above and below the tonic; the mediant and
submediant are a third above and below it; and the dominant and subdominant are
a fifth above and below the tonic:[4]
  Tonic 

 Subtonic   Supertonic 

     

 Submediant   Mediant 

     

 Subdominant   Dominant 

     

The word subtonic is used when the interval between it and the tonic in the

upper octave is a whole step; leading note is used when that interval is a half-step.

 by their name according to the movable do

solfège system: do, re, mi, fa, so(l), la, and si (or ti).
Scale degree names[edit]
Corresponding Corresponding Note Note
Degree Name mode (major mode (minor Meaning (in C (in C
key) key) major) minor)

Tonal center,
1 Tonic Ionian Aeolian note of final C C
resolution

One whole
2 Supertonic Dorian Locrian step above the D D
tonic

Midway
between tonic
and dominant,
3 Mediant Phrygian Ionian E E♭
(in minor key)
root of relative
major key

Lower
dominant,
same interval
4 Subdominant Lydian Dorian F F
below tonic as
dominant is
above tonic

Second in
5 Dominant Mixolydian Phrygian importance to G G
the tonic

Lower
mediant,
midway
between tonic
6 Submediant Aeolian Lydian and A A♭
subdominant,
(in major key)
root of relative
minor key
 One whole
Subtonic (in step below
the natural Mixolydian B♭
tonic in natural
minor scale)
minor scale.

7
One half step
Leading below tonic.
tone (in Melodically
Locrian B
the major strong affinity
scale) for and leads
to tonic

Tonal center,
Tonic
1 Ionian Aeolian note of final C C
(octave)
resolution

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Dominant Chords
What Are Dominant Chords in Music Theory?
A dominant chord is a major triad built on the fifth scale degree of
either a major scale or a minor scale. Major triads consist of a root
note, a major third, and a perfect fifth. A dominant seventh chord
adds an additional scale degree—the flat seventh (also called a
dominant seventh). Because they're based on the fifth degree of a
scale, dominant chords are indicated with the Roman numeral “V”
or, in the case of a dominant seventh, with “V7.”
For instance, in the key of G major, the dominant chord (or V
chord) would be a D, which is a major chord built on the fifth scale
degree of G. A simple D major triad contains the notes D, F♯, and
A. This chord becomes a dominant seventh chord (V7) by adding
the note C.