Degree (music)
Encyclopedia
In music theory
, a scale degree or scale step 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:
Scale step may also refer to the distance, or interval, between two successive scale degrees. The number of scale degrees and the distance between them together define a scale.
Music theory
Music theory is the study of how music works. It examines the language and notation of music. It seeks to identify patterns and structures in composers' techniques across or within genres, styles, or historical periods...
, a scale degree or scale step is the name of a particular note of a scale in relation to the tonic
Tonic (music)
In music, the tonic is the first scale degree of the diatonic scale and the tonal center or final resolution tone. The triad formed on the tonic note, the tonic chord, is thus the most significant chord...
(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, thirdThird (music)In music and music theory third may refer to:*major third*minor third*augmented third/perfect fourth*diminished third/major second*Third , chord member a third above the root*Mediant, third degree of the diatonic scale...
, fourthFourthFourth can refer to:* ¼, one quarter* Fourth, the ordinal number following third* Preceded by the, refers to the United States holiday of Independence Day, celebrated on the fourth of July.-Music:* Perfect fourth in music theory...
, fifthFifthFifth is the ordinal form of the number five.Fifth may refer to:* Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution, as in the expression "Pleading the Fifth"* Fifth column - a political term...
, sixthSixthSixth can refer to:* The ordinal form of the number six* Sixth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution* A keg of beer equal to 5 U.S. gallons or 1/6 barrel of beer.* A fraction, such as 1/6-Music:*Interval*Major sixth*Minor sixth...
, and seventhSeventhSeventh may refer to:* Seventh Amendment to the United States Constitution-Music:* Diminished seventh, a chromatically reduced minor seventh interval...
degrees of the scale; - by Arabic numerals (1, 2, 3, 4 ...), sometimes with carets above them (
); - by Roman numerals (I, II, III, IV ...); and
- in English, by the names and functionDiatonic functionIn tonal music theory, a diatonic function is the specific, recognized role of each of the 7 notes and their chords in relation to the diatonic key...
: tonicTonic (music)In music, the tonic is the first scale degree of the diatonic scale and the tonal center or final resolution tone. The triad formed on the tonic note, the tonic chord, is thus the most significant chord...
, supertonicSupertonicIn music or music theory, the supertonic is the second degree or note of a diatonic scale, one step above the tonic. In music theory, the supertonic chord is symbolized by the Roman numeral ii in a major scale, indicating that the chord is a minor chord , or ii in a natural minor scale, indicating...
, mediantMediantIn music, the mediant is the third scale degree of the diatonic scale, being the note halfway between the tonic and the dominant. Similarly, the submediant is halfway between the tonic and subdominant...
, subdominantSubdominantIn music, the subdominant is the technical name for the fourth tonal degree of the diatonic scale. It is so called because it is the same distance "below" the tonic as the dominant is above the tonic - in other words, the tonic is the dominant of the subdominant. It is also the note immediately...
, dominantDominant (music)In music, the dominant is the fifth scale degree of the diatonic scale, called "dominant" because it is next in importance to the tonic,and a dominant chord is any chord built upon that pitch, using the notes of the same diatonic scale...
, submediantSubmediantIn music, the submediant is the sixth scale degree of the diatonic scale, the 'lower mediant' halfway between the tonic and the subdominant or 'lower dominant'...
, subtonicSubtonicIn music, the subtonic or flattened seventh is the lowered or minor seventh degree of the scale, a whole step below the tonic, as opposed to the leading tone...
, leading note (leading tone in the United States).
- 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 a third above and below the tonic, and dominant and subdominant are a fifth above and below the tonic.
- Subtonic is used when the intervalInterval (music)In music theory, an interval is a combination of two notes, or the ratio between their frequencies. Two-note combinations are also called dyads...
between it and the tonicTonic (music)In music, the tonic is the first scale degree of the diatonic scale and the tonal center or final resolution tone. The triad formed on the tonic note, the tonic chord, is thus the most significant chord...
in the upper octaveOctaveIn music, an octave is the interval between one musical pitch and another with half or double its frequency. The octave relationship is a natural phenomenon that has been referred to as the "basic miracle of music", the use of which is "common in most musical systems"...
is a whole step; leading note when that interval is a half stepSemitoneA semitone, also called a half step or a half tone, is the smallest musical interval commonly used in Western tonal music, and it is considered the most dissonant when sounded harmonically....
.- in English, by the "moveable Do" Solfege system, which allows a person to name each scale degree with a single syllable while singing.
Scale step may also refer to the distance, or interval, between two successive scale degrees. The number of scale degrees and the distance between them together define a scale.