Scale Degrees, Chord Quality, & Roman Numeral Analysis

There are a total of seven scale degrees in both major and minor scales. Each of these degrees has a name which you are required to memorize tonight. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 1 & w w w w w 1. tonicw 2.w supertonic 3.w mediant 4. subdominant 5. dominant 6. submediant 7. leading tone 1. tonic

A triad can be built upon each scale degree. w w w w & w w w w w w w w 1. tonicw 2.w supertonic 3.w mediant 4. subdominant 5. dominant 6. submediant 7. leading tone 1. tonic

The quality and scale degree of the triads is shown by Roman numerals. Captial numerals are used to indicate major triads with lowercase numerals used to show minor triads. Diminished triads are lowercase with a "degree" ( °) symbol following and augmented triads are capital followed by a "plus" ( +) symbol. Roman numerals written for a major key look as follows: w w w w & w w w w w w w w CM: wI (M) iiw (m) wiii (m) IV (M) V (M) vi (m) vii° (dim) I (M) EVERY MAJOR KEY FOLLOWS THE PATTERN ABOVE FOR ITS ROMAN NUMERALS!

Because the seventh scale degree in a natural minor scale is a whole step below tonic instead of a half step, the name is changed to subtonic, rather than leading tone. Leading tone ALWAYS indicates a half step below tonic. Notice the change in the qualities and therefore Roman numerals when in the natural minor scale. w bb w w w w w w & b w w w w w w cm: wi (m) ii°w (dim) III (M) iv (m) v (m) VI (M) VII (M) i (m) EVERY NATURAL MINOR KEY FOLLOWS THE PATTERN ABOVE FOR ITS ROMAN NUMERALS!

In the harmonic minor, the seventh scale degree is raised, so the seventh scale degree becomes the leading tone instead of the subtonic. Most composers use harmonic minor rather than natural so it is more common to see leading tones in music from 1600 to the present. Notice also, the change in the triad quality for the mediant and dominant triads because of the raised seventh in the harmonic minor. b w w w w & b b w w nw w nw w nw w cm: wi (m) wii° (dim) III+w (aug) iv (m) V (M) VI (M) vii° (dim) i (m)

EVERY HARMONIC MINOR KEY FOLLOWS THE PATTERN ABOVE FOR ITS ROMAN NUMERALS!