\n
\nC is the tonic<\/strong><\/p>\n
D is the super<\/strong>tonic<\/strong><\/p>\n E is the mediant<\/strong><\/p>\n F is the subdominant<\/strong><\/p>\n G is the dominant<\/strong><\/p>\n A is the submediant<\/strong><\/p>\n B is the leading note or subtonic C is the octave<\/strong><\/p>\n “Did You Notice This…”<\/em><\/p>\n The seventh tone of the scale is the one scale tone associated with two names:<\/p>\n Leading note<\/p>\n Subtonic<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Let’s go ahead and explore these technical names (side-by-side).<\/p>\n We’re going to ascertain what the appropriate technical name is for the seventh tone of the scale is. But before we do so, let’s examine both technical names.<\/p>\n A half-step below any given note is the leading note. For example, the third tone of the C major scale: The subtonic is the technical name of the seventh tone of the scale in any key (be it a major or minor key). The term subtonic <\/em>literally means “below the tonic”.<\/p>\n In the key of C major: In the key of C minor: The term leading note is not specifically for the seventh tone of the scale; every tone of the scale has its corresponding leading note that is a half-step below it.<\/p>\n The reason why the leading note is associated with the seventh tone of the scale is because in the major key, the seventh tone of the scale is a half-step below the tonic.<\/p>\n This can be seen in the key of C major: So, the appropriate term for the seventh tone of the scale in any key (be it a major or minor key) is the subtonic.<\/p>\n Attention:<\/strong> Due to the half-step distance between the subtonic and the tonic in the major key, the subtonic in the major key can also be described as a leading note. However, that doesn’t make the seventh tone in the key a leading note.<\/p>\n I’m glad we’ve put a clear distinction between the leading note and the subtonic and I’m sure you learned something in this lesson.<\/p>\n We’ll go a step further into understanding how leading note chords work in a subsequent lesson. For now, I’ll leave you to post your comments, make suggestions, and also ask questions.<\/p>\n Thank you for your time.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Find out if the seventh tone of the scale is the leading note or the subtonic in this lesson.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":22362,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[416,350,9],"tags":[17,1842,2746,1926,2340,2072],"class_list":["post-18948","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-experienced-players","category-music-etc","category-piano","tag-basic-songs","tag-leading-note","tag-leading-note-vs-subtonic","tag-scale-degree-names","tag-subtonic","tag-technical-names","post-wrapper","thrv_wrapper"],"yoast_head":"\n
\n<\/strong><\/p>\nThe Leading Note Vs The Subtonic<\/h2>\n
The Concept Of The Leading Note — Explained<\/em><\/h3>\n
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\n…is E:
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\nA half-step below E:
\n
\n…is D#:
\n
\nTherefore, D# is the leading note of E:
\n
\nEvery tone of the scale has a corresponding leading note; which is a half-step below the given note. For example, a half-step below A:
\n
\n…is G#:
\n
\nSo, the leading note of A is G#:
\n<\/p>\n
“What Is The Subtonic?”<\/em><\/h3>\n
\n
\nThe seventh tone of the scale (which is B):
\n
\n…lies directly below C:
\n
\n…which is the tonic (or octave as the case may be).<\/p>\n
\n
\n…the seventh tone of the scale (which is Bb):
\n
\n…is the subtonic and that’s because it lies directly below the tonic (which is C):
\n<\/p>\n
“Yes! It Is The Subtonic. Here’s Why…”<\/em><\/h2>\n
\n
\n…where the seventh tone of the scale (which is B):
\n
\n…is a half-step below the tonic (which is C):
\n
\nBut in the case of the key of C minor:
\n
\n…where the leading note is Bb:
\n
\n…and the tonic is C:
\n
\nIt’s inappropriate to describe the seventh tone of the C natural minor scale as the leading note. This is because contrary to half-step interval between a given note and the leading note, the seventh tone in the minor key is a whole step below the tonic.<\/p>\nFinal Words<\/h2>\n