SCALE  DEGREES
Degrees of a Scale are numbered using Roman numerals to identify each of the 7 notes to assign names to each note regardless of what Key musicians are playing or jamming in.

The most important note of any Scale or Key is the keynote or TONIC, the 1st degree of every scale.   Almost as imporatnt as the TONIC is the DOMINANT.   This word is from the Latin "dominus" meaning master.   The Chord built on the Dominant is so strong that it "masters" the Key, as you will see in Chord Scales used for Chord Progressions.

SCALE  DEGREES  -  Technical  Names

Here is a complete list of the Technical Names for the Scale Degrees.

NOTE #
DEGREE
NAME
1
I
TONIC
The Key note.
     
2
II
SUPERTONIC
The Latin "super" means above: The note above the Tonic.
     
3
III
MEDIANT
The Latin "medius" means middle: the middle note between the Tonic and the Dominant.
     
4
IV
SUBDOMIMANT
The note a Perfect Fifth below the Tonic.
     
5
V
DOMINANT
The note a Perfect Fifth above the Tonic.
     
6
VI
SUBMEDIANT
The third Below the Tonic, midway between the Tonic and the Dominant.
     
7
VII
LEADING NOTE
The note that Leads to the Tonic.
     
8
VIII
TONIC - An Octave Higher.
 

SOLFEGE   SYLLABLES

Solfege is taught at every level of music education, from primary through graduate level university study.   Many music education methods use solfege to teach pitch, ear training, intervals and sight-reading.

Solfege assigns the 7 notes of a scale a particular syllable such Doh for the Tonic.

NOTE #
DEGREE
SOLFEGE
NAME
1
I
DOH
TONIC
       
2
II
RE
SUPERTONIC
       
3
III
ME
MEDIANT
       
4
IV
FA
SUBMEDIANT
       
5
V
SO
DOMINANT
       
6
VI
LA
SUBMEDIANT
       
7
VII
TI (TEE)
LEADING NOTE
       
8
VIII
DOH
TONIC
   

TETRACHORDS

A scale may be divided into 2 halves, each of which is called a TETRACHORD.
"Tetra" in Greek means four; tetrachord means four notes.   A tetrachord is half a scale, the first 4 or the last 4 notes of a scale.   In a Major Scale, the Upper tetrachord has exactly the same order of Tones and Semitones as the Lower one while the two tetrachords are separated by a Whole Tone.
 
 
 




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