Chapter 6
Scale Degrees
by Will Nelson
In addition to its letter name, every note in a scale may be called by its scale degree. Scale degrees are numbers (1–7) that refer to specific notes within a scale. Scale degree 1, for example, is the first note in a scale. In a C scale, C is 1. Below is a C scale labeled with scale degrees:
Scale degree numbers are written with carets above the numbers, as shown above. Because we use numbers to discuss a lot of different things in music theory, the caret lets us know that we are talking specifically about scale degrees.
Each scale degree also has a nickname that describes their relationship to scale degree 1, the tonic. The names of each scale degree are shown in the image below:
unit 1a · Foundations of Tonal Music: Pitch