Bloggin For The Fun Of It~

Alrite, the names of the notes in the staff in a scale are as follows:

1. The MOST IMPORTANT note - root note or key note of the scale (first degree) is called the TONIC or I or in layman terms DOH

2. The next almost as important note of the scale is the DOMINANT or V or SOH at the 5th degree.

3. We then call the 4th degree the SUBDOMINANT or IV or FA because it is the mirror image of the DOMINANT and lies a fifth below the TONIC.

4. The note a third above the TONIC is called the MEDIANT or ME because it lies midway between the TONIC and DOMINANT.

5. We then call the 6th degree the SUBMEDIANT or LAH, because it is the mirror image of the MEDIANT and lies a third BELOW the TONIC. It is also halfway between the SUBDOMINANT and the TONIC.

6. The 2nd degree, which is the note above the TONIC is called the SUPERTONIC or RAY.

7. And lastly, the 7th degree is called the LEADING NOTE or TE, precisely because it leads up to the TONIC in the next octave.

Make Sense Please!

Yes precisely, let's take the key of C major for example. The notes of C maj are C D E F G A B C. Therefore, C being the root note or key note of the scale, makes it the most important note in the scale which is the TONIC.

G, which lies a fifth above C is called the DOMINANT.

F is then the SUBDOMINANT because it is a fifth below TONIC C. (count F G A B C)

E is the MEDIANT, a third above C TONIC which makes it the 3rd degree. (count C D E)

A is the SUBMEDIANT a third BELOW C which makes it the 6th degree. (count A B C - C being the TONIC 8th degree in the next octave)

D is the SUPERTONIC, 2nd degree.

And B is the LEADING NOTE or 7th degree.


But of course, the positions of these degrees vary according to the different key signatures.

Doing a contrast with let's say... F# major whose notes are F# G# A# B C# D# E# F#.

This time, the TONIC is of course, F#

C# becomes the DOMINANT

B is the SUBDOMINANT

A# the MEDIANT

D# is the SUBMEDIANT

G# is the SUPERTONIC

E#(F) will be the LEADING NOTE


damn... i actually love doing these things.. scales and music theory are my best of friends~