Konusstufen

Konusstufen, German for “consonant degrees,” is a term used in music theory to describe the subset of a diatonic scale that is considered most consonant with the tonic and thus central to tonal harmony. The concept helps analysts identify which scale degrees most strongly underpin the tonal center when constructing chords and shaping progressions.

Typically, the primary Konusstufen are the tonic (scale degree 1), the mediant (3) and the dominant (5). Triads built on these degrees—I, iii, and V in major and minor keys—provide stable harmonic anchors around the tonic. Some authors expand the set to include scale degrees 4 (subdominant) and 6 (submediant), because the IV and VI triads frequently appear in progressions that depart from and return to the tonic, contributing important directional sense. The seventh degree, or leading tone, is usually treated separately as part of dominant-function harmony or within seventh chords rather than as a standard Konusstufe.

Examples in a key such as C major illustrate the idea: C (1), E (3) and G (5) form the core Konusstufen, while F (4) and A (6) serve as secondary Konusstufen when they appear in harmonies like IV or VI, reinforcing or prolonging the tonic area.

Usage and variation: The exact definition of Konusstufen varies by author, historical period, and pedagogical tradition. The term is primarily used in German-language theory and may be described differently in English-language scholarship.