Degrees in major and minor

Degrees, recapped

Each note of a scale is a degree, numbered from the key note as the 1st. In a harmonic minor scale, remember that the 7th is raised.

Worked example: find a degree

Which note is the 6th degree of E flat major?

1. E flat major: E flat, F, G, A flat, B flat, C.
2. Counting E flat as the 1st, the 6th is C.

Remember

• Number the degrees from the key note as 1.
• In a harmonic minor scale the 7th is raised.