Music Theory Scale Degrees Flashcards

What is the 1st scale degree also known as?

What is the 2nd scale degree called?

Which scale degree is referred to as the mediant?

What is the function of the dominant scale degree?

The 4th scale degree is known as the ______.

The 6th scale degree is called ______.

Describe the 7th scale degree.

What is the 7th scale degree in the natural minor scale known as?

Scale Degrees and Their Names

Tonic: The 1st scale degree; serves as the tonal center and final resolution tone.
Supertonic: The 2nd scale degree; located one step above the tonic.

Further Scale Degrees

Mediants: The 3rd scale degree; positioned midway between tonic and dominant.
Subdominant: The 4th scale degree; recognized as the lower dominant, it is the fifth tone down from the tonic and the fourth tone up from the tonic.

Dominant and Its Role

Dominant: The 5th scale degree; it plays a crucial role second only to the tonic in musical hierarchy.

Lower Mediants and Their Significance

Submediant: The 6th scale degree; referred to as the lower mediant, it lies halfway between tonic and subdominant, and is the third tone down from the tonic.

Leading Tone Dynamics

Leading Tone: The 7th scale degree; exhibits a strong melodic affinity for the tonic, typically appearing a half step below the tonic, used in all scales except the natural minor.

Special Case of Subtonic

Subtonic: Also a 7th scale degree; specifically indicates the 7th degree of the natural minor scale, positioned a whole step below the tonic.

Explore the foundational elements of music theory with these flashcards on scale degree names. Each card provides a concise definition to help you grasp the role of each degree in relation to the tonic. Perfect for students looking to strengthen their understanding of musical concepts.