Scale degree names
Every note of a scale has a number (1 to 7) and a traditional name. The names describe each note's role, and they are the vocabulary musicians use to talk about harmony: "the song modulates to the dominant", "end on the tonic", "a subdominant chord".
| Degree | Name | Meaning | In C major |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tonic | The home note | C |
| 2 | Supertonic | Just above (super) the tonic | D |
| 3 | Mediant | Midway between tonic and dominant | E |
| 4 | Subdominant | A fifth below the tonic (the dominant's mirror) | F |
| 5 | Dominant | A fifth above the tonic, the strongest support | G |
| 6 | Submediant | Midway between tonic and subdominant, below | A |
| 7 | Leading tone / subtonic | A half step (leading tone) or whole step (subtonic) below the tonic | B |
The three that matter most
- Tonic (1): home. Music feels at rest when it lands here.
- Dominant (5): a fifth above the tonic and the strongest support. The chord built on it pulls firmly back home.
- Subdominant (4): a fifth below the tonic. It sounds open and moves away from home, often leading to the dominant.
Together they make the I, IV and V chords that underlie countless songs.
Why "sub" and "super"?
The prefixes tell you where a note sits relative to another. Supertonic is just above the tonic, while subtonic is below it. Mediant is the middle one, halfway between tonic and dominant, and the submediant is the matching middle note below the tonic. The subdominant sits a fifth below the tonic, mirroring the dominant a fifth above it.
Minor keys and the seventh
The names are the same in minor, but the 7th degree has two forms. In natural minor it is a whole step below the tonic, called the subtonic (G in A minor). Raise it a half step, as in harmonic minor, and it becomes the leading tone (G♯), with a stronger pull to the tonic. Heavy lift mode asks for both.
How to learn them
- Start without keys. The Warm-up level just matches numbers and names until "5 is the dominant" is instant.
- Add C major, then other keys. The Working set asks you to find a note's role in a key you are given.
- Take on minor. Heavy lift uses every key, spelled correctly, so you meet the subtonic and the leading tone.
- Go timed. Use a 1 or 2 minute set to make the names automatic.
See the scale degrees in context on any scale page, find the notes of a key on the key signature chart, or put them to work with the chords in each key on the chord chart.
Frequently asked questions
What are the names of the scale degrees?
In order: tonic (1st), supertonic (2nd), mediant (3rd), subdominant (4th), dominant (5th), submediant (6th) and leading tone (7th). In natural minor the 7th is called the subtonic.
What is the dominant in music?
The dominant is the 5th note of the scale. The chord built on it (V) is the strongest pull back to the tonic, which is why it is so important in harmony.
What is the difference between the subtonic and the leading tone?
Both are the 7th degree. The leading tone is a half step below the tonic and pulls up to it (as in major). The subtonic is a whole step below the tonic and has a softer pull (as in natural minor).
What is the tonic?
The tonic is the first note of the scale and the home note of the key. In C major the tonic is C, and music tends to feel finished when it comes to rest there.
Do the names change in minor keys?
No, the names stay the same, though the notes differ. In A minor the dominant is E and the subdominant is D. Only the 7th degree has two names (subtonic or leading tone).