Scale Degree Names & Functions
The name for each step of a scale (tonic, dominant, leading note…) and the job each one does.
Explainer
Every note of a scale has both a number (1-8) and a name describing the job it does.
1 = Tonic (home). 5 = Dominant (the strongest pull after the tonic). 7 = Leading note (pulls up strongly to the tonic).
The other degrees have names too: 2 Supertonic, 3 Mediant, 4 Subdominant, 6 Submediant.
Worked examples
Example 1
The tonic (1)
The "home" note — C in the key of C major.
Example 2
The dominant (5)
The strongest note after the tonic — G in C major.
Example 3
The leading note (7)
Pulls strongly up to the tonic — B in C major, just a semitone below C.