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.
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SCALE DEGREES - Technical Names
Here is a complete list of the Technical Names for the Scale Degrees.
NOTE # |
DEGREE |
NAME |
1 |
I
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TONIC
The Key note. |
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2 |
II
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SUPERTONIC The Latin "super" means above: The note above the Tonic. |
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3 |
III
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MEDIANT
The Latin "medius" means middle: the middle note between the Tonic and the Dominant. |
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4 |
IV
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SUBDOMIMANT The note a Perfect Fifth below the Tonic. |
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5 |
V
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DOMINANT The note a Perfect Fifth above the Tonic. |
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6 |
VI |
SUBMEDIANT The third Below the Tonic, midway between the Tonic and the Dominant. |
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7 |
VII |
LEADING NOTE The note that Leads to the Tonic. |
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8 |
VIII |
TONIC - An Octave Higher. |
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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
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NAME |
1 |
I |
DOH |
TONIC |
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2 |
II |
RE |
SUPERTONIC |
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3 |
III |
ME |
MEDIANT |
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4 |
IV |
FA |
SUBMEDIANT |
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5 |
V |
SO |
DOMINANT |
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6 |
VI |
LA |
SUBMEDIANT |
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7 |
VII |
TI (TEE) |
LEADING NOTE |
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8 |
VIII |
DOH |
TONIC |
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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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