3. Keys, Scales and Technical Names for Notes

Technical names

Each note of any scale can be called by its "technical name". In previous grades we learnt about the degrees of the scale, where each note of the scale was given a number from 1-7. For example, in the key of C major, C=1, D=2 and so on.

You need to learn the technical names for each degree of the scale. Here they are:

1st= Tonic

2nd= Supertonic

3rd= Mediant

4th= Subdominant

5th= Dominant

6th= Submediant

7th = Leading Note

Here are the notes and technical names in the key of F major:

In the exam, the harmonic version of the minor scale is used to work out the technical names (rather than the melodic version). Here are the notes and technical names in the key of F minor:

Keys

In grade four you need to know the keys (key signature and scales) of all the major and minor keys, up to and including 5 sharps or 5 flats. 

Grade three took us up to all keys with 4 sharps/flats, so we only have four new keys to learn in this grade - those that contain 5 sharps or flats in the key signature. They are:

• B major (5 sharps)
• G# minor (5 sharps)
• Db major (5 flats)
• Bb minor (5 flats)

The sharps, in order,  are F#, C#, G#, D# and A#. Here are the key signatures in treble and bass clef:

The flats, in order, are Bb, Eb, Ab, Db and Gb:

Scales

Here are the major scales of B and Db for you, written with accidentals.

B major:

Db major:

As in grade 3, you need to know both types of minor scale - the harmonic and melodic.

The scale of G# minor uses a double sharp - the leading note (7th degree of the scale) is F. The enharmonic equivalent of this note is G natural, but you must not write G natural in the scale of G# minor - remember that each letter name can only be used once!

Here are the minor scales of G# and Db.

G# minor harmonic:

G# minor melodic:

Bb minor harmonic:

Bb minor melodic: