Scale Degrees
What are Scale Degrees?
Knowing scale degrees is critical for understanding music theory, chord symbology, and roman numerals in music. There are seven scale degrees, each corresponding to one note in the major scale, or the interval (second, third, fourth, etc.)
Oftentimes the scale degree of a chord is mentioned only as the number: “play the 6 [in that C chord]” or “E minor has a flat 3” or “the augmented triad has a sharp 5.” To flat a scale degree means to move the note down a half-step, and to sharp a scale degree means to move the note up a half-step.
The most important scale degree in any chord is the 1 (tonic), the first and foundation note. The second most important scale degree is the 5 (dominant). If we add the 3 (mediant), we now have the skeleton for some beautiful chords. 7ths and extensions (explained ahead) are the key to those awesome jazzy chords. Scale degrees repeat every new octave; so if you’re in the key of C, every D on the piano will be a 2, every B will be a 7, etc.
Scale degrees become a little more interesting in the world of jazz theory. We have what are called extensions. The interval of a 9th (D), up from C, is called the 9th. Likewise, the 11th (F) is called the 11th, and the 13th (A) is called the 13th. However, in terms of jazz theory, the 10th is considered the 3rd (mediant), and the 12th is considered the 5th (dominant). This is because when we have a 7th chord (a triad which has the 1, 3, and 5, with a 7 on top of it) the harmonic quality changes greatly with an extension.
This harmonic change is directly attributable to the harmonic interplay between the 7th (leading tone [B], or dominant 7th [Bb]) and the extension. This unique harmonic change doesn’t really apply when the 7th is absent in your chord; in which case, your 9th really just sounds like a 2nd (supertonic), and your 13th sounds no different than a 6th (submediant). As soon as you add that 7th, you get a very different tonality! One so different that the 9th has to be distinguished from the 2nd, the 11th from the 4th, and the 13th from the 6th. Experiment with triads and extensions with and without the 7th, to hear the difference yourself!
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Each Scale Degree has a Name
● 1st degree – The tonic
● 2nd degree – The supertonic
● 3rd degree – The mediant
● 4th degree – The subdominant
● 5th degree – The dominant
● 6th degree – The submediant
● 7th degree – The leading note (or leading tone)
● 9th degree – Extension
● 11th degree – Extension
● 13th degree – Extension
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