Degree ( music ) - wikipedia Degree ( music ) For scale - step in Schenkerian analysis, see scale - step. Scale degree roman numerals. Play ( help info ) Scale degree names ( C major scale ) Play ( help info ) ). In music theory, scale degree refers to the position of a particular note on a scale 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 merely is the number given to each step of the scale, usually starting with 1 = 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. This definition implies a functional scale, as is the case in tonal music. The expression 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. Major and minor scales The degrees of the traditional major and minor scales may be identified several ways : the first, second, ( major or minor ) third, fourth, fifth, major or minor sixth, and major or minor seventh degrees of the scale ; by Arabic numerals ( 1, 2, 3, 4... ), sometimes with circumflexes ( 1 ^, 2 ^, 3 ^... ( displaystyle ( hat ( 1 ) ), ( hat ( 2 ) ), ( hat ( 3 ) )... ) ) ; by Roman numerals ( I, II, III, IV... ) ; the diatonic mode which starts on the degree, and contains all the notes in the key in English, by the names and function : tonic, supertonic, mediant, subdominant, dominant, submediant, leading note ( leading tone in the United States ) and tonic again. 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 interval between it and the tonic in the upper octave is a whole step ; leading note when that interval is a half - step. in English, by the `` moveable Do '' Solfege system, which allows a person to name each scale degree with a single syllable while singing. Degree Name ( Diatonic Function ) Corresponding mode ( major key ) Corresponding mode ( minor key ) Meaning Note ( in C major ) Note ( in C minor ) 1st Tonic Ionian Aeolian Tonal center, note of final resolution 2nd Supertonic Dorian Locrian One whole step above the tonic 3rd Mediant Phrygian Ionian Midway between tonic and dominant, ( in minor key ) root of relative major key E ♭ 4th Subdominant Lydian Dorian Lower dominant, same interval below tonic as dominant is above tonic 5th Dominant Mixolydian Phrygian 2nd in importance to the tonic 6th Submediant Aeolian Lydian Lower mediant, midway between tonic and subdominant, ( in major key ) root of relative minor key A ♭ 7th Leading tone ( in Major scale ) / Subtonic ( in Natural Minor Scale ) Locrian Mixolydian Melodically strong affinity for and leads to tonic / One half step below tonic in Major scale and whole step in Natural minor. B ♭ 1st ( 8th ) Tonic ( octave ) Ionian Aeolian Tonal center, note of final resolution C ' C ' See also Factor ( chord ) Music education Tonality Sources Jump up ^ Jonas, Oswald ( 1982 ). Introduction to the Theory of Heinrich Schenker ( 1934 : Das Wesen des musikalischen Kunstwerks : Eine Einführung in Die Lehre Heinrich Schenkers ), p. 22. Trans. John Rothgeb. ISBN 0 - 582 - 28227 - 6. Shown all uppercase. Jump up ^ Benward & Saker ( 2003 ). Music : In Theory and Practice, Vol. I, p. 32 - 3. Seventh Edition. ISBN 978 - 0 - 07 - 294262 - 0. `` Scale degree names : Each degree of the seven - tone diatonic scale has a name that relates to its function. The major scale and all three forms of the minor scale share these terms. '' Jump up ^ Kolb, Tom ( 2005 ). Music Theory for Guitarists, p. 16. ISBN 0 - 634 - 06651 - X. Musical scales ( list ) Main Western Major Minor Chromatic Types Bebop Diatonic Distance model Enharmonic Jazz Symmetric Synthetic mode Synthetic scale Name Acoustic Adonai malakh mode Alpha Altered Beta Blues Bohlen -- Pierce Double harmonic Enigmatic Flamenco mode Gamma Half diminished Harmonic major Harmonic Jazz minor Lydian dominant Major Locrian Misheberak Phrygian dominant Ptolemy 's intense diatonic Scale of harmonics Whole tone Ethnic origin Algerian Arabic Double harmonic Major Locrian Quarter tone 17 equal temperament Brazil Escala nordestina Gamelan Pelog Slendro Gypsy Hungarian gypsy Hungarian minor Istrian Japanese Neapolitan Persian Ukrainian Dorian Ukrainian minor Modes Modes in Western music Gregorian Authentic Dorian Phrygian Lydian Mixolydian Plagal Hypodorian Hypophrygian Hypolydian Hypomixolydian Other Ionian Hypoionian Aeolian Hypoaeolian Locrian Hypolocrian Reciting tone Diatonic Ionian ( I ) Dorian ( II ) Phrygian ( III ) Lydian ( IV ) Mixolydian ( V ) Aeolian ( VI ) Locrian ( VII ) Jazz minor Ascending melodic minor ( I ) Dorian ♭ 2 ( II ) Lydian Augmented ( III ) Lydian Dominant ( IV ) Mixolydian ♭ 13 ( V ) Locrian ♮ 2 ( VI ) Altered ( VII ) Number of tones Monotonic ( 1 ) Ditonic ( 2 ) Tritonic ( 3 ) Tetratonic ( 4 ) Pentatonic ( 5 ) Hexatonic ( 6 ) Heptatonic ( 7 ) Octatonic ( 8 ) Chromatic ( 12 ) Degrees and functions of the diatonic scale i ( for minor keys ) ii III IV or iv V or v vi or VI VII vii Tonic Supertonic Sp Mediant Dp, Tkp, tP, ( D ) ( Sp ) Subdominant Dominant or Dominant seventh Submediant Tp, sP, tCp Subtonic dP Leading D̸ E ♭ / E ♮ ( minor and Major keys ) G ( or G7 ) A ♭ / A ♮ ( minor and Major keys ) B ♭ ( more common in minor keys and in popular music ) B ♮ Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Degree_(music)&oldid=794267147 '' Categories : Scale degrees Hidden categories : Articles with hAudio microformats Talk About Wikipedia Català Deutsch Eesti Español Euskara فارسی Français Հայերեն Italiano עברית Nederlands 日本 語 Polski Português Русский Српски / srpski Srpskohrvatski / српскохрватски Українська 中文 Edit links This page was last edited on 6 August 2017, at 23 : 18. 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Question: what is the name given to the first scale degree
Answer: the tonic