Scale Degree and Scale Degree Names In Music
Scale Degrees
The scale degree names are terminology used in music theory to identify each note of a scale. So the scale degree names help us to identify the tone of each note on a scale.
In particular, a scale is the fundamental of the tonal in music theory. We can easily use a set of tones or notes in the scale to create melodies and harmonies.
The scale consists of a group of notes or tones arranged in relation to their pitch in ascending or descending order.
Note in ascending scale rise in pitch. That means every note in succession as we move up is higher in pitch than the one it succeeded.
Also, note in descending scale decrease in pitch. That means every note in succession as we move down is lower in pitch than the one it succeeded.
In this article, we will look into what the scale degree is as well as the scale degree names. Moreover, we will not leave the technical name of the scale degree out.
So without any further ado, let us see what a scale degree in music is and thereafter find out the scale degree names.
What Is A Scale Degree?
A scale degree is a musical term used to identify the position of a specific note in the scale in relation to the first note of the scale.
Specifically, each note in the scale is formed at different intervals from the first note of the scale. So the scale degree of the tones in a scale depends on their interval to the first note of the scale.
A major or minor scale for instance consists of seven notes. All the seven notes in the scale are successively aligned on different pitches.
These seven notes all together on the scale are in different positions to one another on the scale. So the scale degree is the term used to refer to every note on the scale.
Moreover, once the first note of the scale has been established, other notes will take their scale degree in relation to the first note of the scale.
On the other hand, all the notes on the scale are known as degrees. And they are also referred to as the degrees of the scale.
However, the interval of each degree in relation to the first degree is different. And this also dictates the position and pitch of each note in the scale. Hence, to properly differentiate each note or degree on the scale, we have scale degree names.
What are the Scale Degree Names?
Every note in the scale degree has a theoretical name given to them. Scale degree names are the term used for the theoretical name given to every note in a major or minor scale to be specific.
In order to properly establish the position of every degree on a scale, we assigned a degree number to each note that made up the scale. These degree numbers are scale degree names of each note according to their position and interval in relation to the keynote.
Note that the keynote is the first note of the scale and the note on which the key of the music is built.
So the keynote which is the first note on the scale is 1st degree of the scale. Then the second note that follows the first note is assigned the 2nd degree.
In the same order, the third and the fourth note were assigned the 3rd and 4th degrees respectively. And the trend of the scale degree names continues like that until the seventh note which was assigned the 7th degree.
Sometimes, Roman figures like I, II, III, IV, V, VI, and VII are used for the scale degree names. So I for the first note of the scale, II for the second note of the scale, and so on.
The typical example is shown in the diagram above.
Example of Scale Degree Names
Let us see how these scale degree names work on the key of the C Major scale. Specifically, the C Major scale is built on C which is also the first note of the scale.
And if we use the musical alphabet for the scale we have C–D–E–F–G–A–B–C, where C’ is the keynote. Actually, the last C (eighth note) of the scale is the repeat of the first note but an octave higher.
From the C Major scale, we have the scale degree names broken down below:
C is the 1st degree (I)
D is the 2nd degree (II)
E is the 3rd degree (III)
F is the 4th degree (IV)
G is the 5th degree (V)
A is the 6th degree (VI)
B is the 7th degree (VII)
C’ is the 8th degree (VIII)
Note that the scale degree starts again and it’s the octave higher.
The Technical name of the Scale Degrees
Apart from the number names or the Roman figure names used for the scale degree names, we still have technical names for each degree.
The technical names of the scale degree are scholarly terms given to every degree of the scale.
Major Scale Degree Name
In ascending order, the technical names of the major scale degree are:
1st degree – (I) – The tonic
2nd degree – (II) – The supertonic
3rd degree – (III) –The mediant
4th degree – (IV) –The subdominant
5th degree – (V) – The dominant
6th degree – (VI) –The submediant
7th degree – (VII) –The leading note or tone
8th degree – (VIII) – The tonic (Octave)
Minor Scale Degree Names
Also, in ascending order, the technical names of the scale degree in the minor scale degree are:
1st degree – (I) – The tonic
2nd degree – (II) – The supertonic
3rd degree – (III) –The mediant
4th degree – (IV) –The subdominant
5th degree – (V) – The dominant
6th degree – (VI) –The submediant
7th degree – (VII) –The Subtonic
8th degree – (VIII) – The tonic (Octave)
The 8th degree is actually the tonic but an octave higher so we call it the tonic as well.
In the following sections, we will discuss the technical name of each scale degree in more detail.
Tonic
The tonic is the first degree or note of the diatonic scale, that is major or minor scale. Tonic is also known as the keynote (tone note) from which the scale takes its name.
Also, the tonic note is the note that all other notes in the scale “gravitate” towards. All other notes of the scale are established after the tonic.
Tonic sounds firm, strong, and complete. It is an ideal note to begin or end a phrase as well as a melody.
Supertonic
The supertonic is the second-degree note of the scale and also a scale name for a second note in the major and minor scale.
Supertonic is derived from a word that is of Latin origin known as “super”. Specifically, “super” in Latin denotes “above”. So supertonic simply means a note “Above Tonic”.
The supertonic is the note immediately above the tonic and a whole tone or one step above the tonic in the major scale build-up.
Supertonic is one of the best notes that smoothly lead to the tonic. Also, it typically draws itself towards the dominant.
Mediant
The mediant is the third note of the diatonic scale. Also, it is the third-degree note of the scale. Mediant is a Latin word and it means “middle”.
Specifically, mediant lie midway between the tonic and the dominant.
Mediant forms the middle note which is the third of a major or minor triad chord. And is the determinant if the triad chord will be major or minor.
The mediant in major keys strengthens happiness. Also, it brings the dark or plaintive sound of the minor scale to light.
Subdominant
The Subdominant is basically the fourth-degree note of the diatonic scale. Also, it is the fourth-degree note of the scale.
Subdominant came from two English words. The first one is the word “Sub”, and the second word is “Dominant”. Where the “Sub” is the prefix and it means under or below. So Subdominant is “under dominant” (the lower dominant).
However, it is called Subdominant because it is the same distance below the tonic as the dominant is above the tonic and not because it is the note below the dominant.
Also, subdominant the strongest notes after the tonic and the dominant and one of the important notes of the scale. Besides, it has a strong attraction for the tonic.
Dominant
The dominant is the fifth note of the diatonic scale. Dominant is next in importance to the tonic and is called dominant because it dominates the key.
It is a powerful note and second in command to the tonic on the diatonic scale.
The dominant note has a gravity about it that is neither highly dissonant. not completely resolved.
Also, it has a very strong attraction towards the tonic that several harmonies revolve around the dominant chord.
Submediant
The sixth note of the diatonic scale is called Dominant. So the submediant is the sixth-degree note of the scale. It is also known as lower mediant because it is halfway between the subdominant and the tonic.
Specifically, it is the third note below the tonic as mediant is the third note above the tonic.
Submediant notes are subtler and have a stronger attraction towards the dominant or fifth degree.
Leading Tone (or Tone)
The seventh note of the major scale degree is called the Leading note. It is popularly known in Europe and the United Kingdom as the leading note. Typically, the leading tone leads up to the tonic and that is the reason it is called the leading note.
The leading tone is just a half-step away from the tonic octave within a major scale. It possesses the strongest half-step resolution with the tonic. So it is very resolute about being resolved to the tonic.
For a very strong phrase or melody resolution, use seventh-degree followed by the root chord (I). It possesses an aura of completeness that sounds very satisfying. Besides, it reinforces the piece of music tonality.
Octave
An octave is a musical term used to describe the distance between two notes of the same degree that are directly at intervals apart.
In this case, the pitch of the upper note is twice the pitch of the lower note directly below it.
The octave does not mean a new scale degree but the continuation of the entire scale length.
Although we use 8th degree and VIII for it, it is just a tonic (or same 1st-degree note) at a higher pitch.
Just start counting the scale degrees afresh when you reach an octave of the scale and consider it as the same tonic in the first position.
Subtonic
The seventh note of the minor scale degree is technically called subtonic.
It is not a surprise that the minor scale used subtonic instead of the leading note used in the major scale.
The “sub” prefix in “subtonic” is explicitly used to specify that the seventh-degree note in the minor scale is below the tonic.
Actually, the leading tone in the major scale is below the tonic as well but the interval is a half-step or semitone. The major scale 7th-degree note is a major seventh degree.
That is not the case in the minor scale, the minor scale 7 degree is a minor seventh degree. So, the seventh-degree note of the minor scale is below the tonic with a whole step or a tone interval.
Remember we have “Supertonic” with a degree that is a whole step above the tonic on a major scale. In the same sense, we have “Subtonic” to refer to a note that is a whole step below the tonic in a minor scale.
The Solfège Names Of The Scale Degree
The scale degree also uses a sol-fa system known as solfège syllables for scale degree names. This system utilized what we know as movable “do” solfege.
With the movable-do system, each solfège syllable has a direct counterpart in the scale degree. Specifically, the first-degree tone of a major scale or the tonic of the scale corresponds to the “doh” of the solfège syllable. So every tonic of a major scale is normally sung as “doh”.
Furthermore, the second-degree note of the major scale is “re” from the solfège syllable and it continues like that. So we have a first degree to seventh degree of the major scale in solfège syllable as below.
1st degree (I) as Do
2nd degree (II) as Re
3rd degree (III) as Mi
4th degree (IV) as Fa
5th degree (V) as Sol
6th degree (VI) as La
7th degree (VII) as Ti
Also in a minor scale, we have movable “do” solfège syllables with do-based minor as below.
1st degree (I) as Do
2nd degree (II) as Re
3rd degree (III) as Me (or Ma)
4th degree (IV) as Fa
5th degree (V) as Sol
6th degree (VI) as Le (or Lo)
7th degree (VII) as Te (or To)
Summary
Before we run to the end of this article, we need to clearly understand that every note on a major or minor scale is called a degree.
However, each degree is rated according to their intervals to the first note of the scale.
The first note of every scale is the 1st degree of the scale and is technically known as a tonic or “do” in the sol-fa system.
Also, remember that the leading tone is just a half step below the tonic in a major key. And that the subtonic is a whole step below the tonic in a minor key.
Let also remember that the subtonic is the last degree on the minor key scale and is a whole step below the tonic.
In the same manner, the leading tone is the last degree of the major scale and is only a half-step below the tonic.
Final Thoughts
Most of the terms used in the scale degrees as well as the scale degree names are frequently used in chord terminologies as well.
So, mastering them and what they mean here will be a useful tool when talking about chords.
However, we have actually learned from this article. If you have any questions about scale degree or scale degree names, kindly ask in the comment section below.
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