Each tone of the scale, or scale degree, has a special name given to it by medieval music theorists in some way indicating its role.
| 1 | Tonic | The Latin word "tonus" means "note" and refers to the first note of the scale, by which all the others are measured. |
| 2 | Supertonic | The second scale degree is called the "supertonic," meaning "above the tonic." |
| 3 | Mediant | Scale degree 3 is called the "mediant," being half way between the tonic and the dominant. |
| 4 | Subdominant | The "subdominant" is not so named by virtue of being a step below the dominant, but rather because it is a dominant (fifth) below the tonic. |
| 5 | Dominant | A fifth above the tonic at a 2:3 frequency ratio. |
| 6 | Submediant | Scale degree 6 is called the "submediant" because it is half way between the tonic and the subdominant. |
| 7 | Subtonic | The seventh scale degree is called the "subtonic," meaning "below the tonic." If the subtonic is a semitone below the tonic, it is called a "leading tone." |
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