(MJS) Proper Note Names Lesson

Proper Note Names

Notes on the scale

Each note of a scale has a special name, called a scale degree.

First note is a tonic

The first (and last) note is called the tonic.

The fifth note is a dominant

The fifth note is called the dominant.

The fourth note is the subdominant

The fourth note is called the subdominant. Notice that the subdominant is the same distance below the upper tonic as the dominant is above the lower one (a generic fifth).

Third note is the mediant

The third note is called the mediant since it is in the middle of the tonic and dominant.

The sixth note is the submediant

The prefix sub is Latin for ''under'' or ''beneath''. The fourth note is called subdominant since it is just beneath or under the dominant. The sixth note is called the submediant since it is below the upper tonic and is in the middle of the upper tonic and subdominant.

Second note is the supertonic

The second note is called the supertonic. Super is Latin for ''above''. The supertonic is just above the tonic.

The seventh one is special. If the seventh note is a half step below the tonic, it is called a leading tone.

While the scale degrees for the first six notes are the same for both major and minor scales, the seventh one is special. If the seventh note is a half step below the tonic, it is called a leading tone.

If the seventh note is a whole step below the tonic it is called the subtonic

If the seventh note is a whole step below the tonic, it is called a subtonic.

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