Lesson 4
Minor scales

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minor scales

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8

Scale-degree names

Except for the seventh scale degree, the scale-degree names remain the same for both the major and minor modes. In the natural minor scale (and descending melodic minor scale), the seventh scale degree is one whole step below tonic. This is called the subtonic. In the ascending melodic minor and harmonic minor scales, the seventh scale degree is 1/2 step below tonic and is called the leading tone (the same as in the major scale where the seventh scale degree is also 1/2 step below tonic).

Subtonic--whole step below tonic

Leading tone--half step below tonic

Following are the scale-degree names for the natural minor scale.

Scale-degree name:
1 tonic the central pitch that the other pitches "gravitate" toward
2 supertonic the note above ("super") tonic; often moves down one step to tonic in melodies
3 mediant the note midway between tonic and the dominant above
4 subdominant the note below ("sub") the dominant; often moves up to the dominant
5 dominant after tonic, the most important pitch of a key; often moves directly to tonic
6 submediant the note midway between tonic and the subdominant below
7 subtonic the note one whole step below tonic (different from the leading tone, which is 1/2 step below tonic)

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