Reference : names of degrees
In addition to referring to the degrees of the major and minor scales by Roman numerals, the following names may also be used:
| Degree | Name |
|---|---|
| I | Tonic |
| II | Supertonic |
| III | Mediant |
| IV | Subdominant |
| V | Dominant |
| VI | Submediant or Superdominant |
| VII | Leading tone |
The IV degree is called subdominant because it is a fifth below the tonic while the dominant is a fifth above the tonic:
The III degree is called mediant because it is halfway between the tonic and the dominant. The VI degree is called submediant because it is halfway between the tonic and the subdominant:
