Start with C major

Read these notes in order, from left to right.

A scale degree is a note's numbered position inside the scale. The starting note is 1. From there, count through the seven notes.

A scale degree is a position. An interval is the distance between notes. Today, we only need the position.

Look straight down from each note to its number. C is 1, D is 2, and the count keeps going to B as 7.

Try one in C

In C major, what note is scale degree 5?

Count from C as 1: C, D, E, F, G. Scale degree 5 is G.

Now G major

The starting note changed. Read this scale in order first.

G is 1 now. The other notes take positions 2 through 7 in order. The notes changed, but the way we number their positions did not.

Your turn again

What note is scale degree 5 in G major?

Start on G and count: G, A, B, C, D. Degree 5 is D.

Turn the question around

This time you have the note. In G major, what scale degree is B?

G is 1, A is 2, B is 3. B is scale degree 3.

Same map. You just used it in the other direction.

Same position, different note

Look at both scales. What note is degree 6 in C major? What note is degree 6 in G major?

Degree 6 is A in C major and E in G major. Same numbered position, different notes.

That is the idea to keep: start with the first note as 1, then count through positions 2 to 7. You can go from number to note, or from note back to number.

Next time, these numbers will help us start building chords. You do not need to work that out yet.