Scaledegree

Scaledegree is the musical term for the position of a pitch within a scale relative to the tonic. It is typically expressed as a number from 1 through 7, with 1 representing the tonic pitch and 8 repeating at the octave. The concept allows analysts to describe notes and chords in relation to the scale rather than to absolute pitch.

Scale degrees are used with movable-Do or fixed-Do solfege. In movable-Do, degree 1 is do, degree 2 is re, and so on, so the same degree names apply across keys. In fixed-Do, do always designates a specific pitch class regardless of the key. This distinction helps connect scale-degree analysis to solfege practice and notation.

In tonal music, certain degrees have conventional functions: degree 1 is the tonic, degree 4 is the subdominant, and degree 5 is the dominant. Degree 7 is the leading tone in major keys and in harmonic minor, while in natural minor it is called the subtonic. Degree 2 is the supertonic, degree 3 the mediant, and degree 6 the submediant. Scale-degree analysis also covers non-diatonic alterations, such as flat seventh (bVII) or flat sixth (bVI) borrowed from parallel modes.

Chords built on scale degrees are often denoted with roman numerals (I, ii, iii, IV, V, vi, vii°), reflecting both the degree and the chord quality in a given key. For example, in C major, scale-degree 1 is C and scale-degree 5 is G (the dominant). In minor keys, the same degrees retain their roles, though chord qualities vary with the mode (e.g., minor v or V depending on harmonic context).