MusicianCV · TRScale degrees and tonal centre
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Tonal centres and signatures
A scale degree describes a note relative to a chosen centre. The first is tonic and the fifth is dominant. These are roles rather than fixed pitch names: G is degree five in C major, while A is degree five in D major.
Changing the centre can change a note’s role without changing its pitch. Establish the tonal context rather than relying solely on the first or last note. These terms are useful in tonal analysis but are not automatic substitutes for makam terminology.
Example
In G major: G=1, A=2, B=3, C=4, D=5.
Scale degrees and tonal centreC D E F G A B / 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
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What is degree five in F major?
Answer
C: count F–G–A–B-flat–C.Related topics
Reading key signatures · Relative major and minorReferences
Music Theory for the 21st-Century Classroom
Subject-expert review pending.