In Western music, a diatonic scale is a heptatonic scale where each tone is a degree of the scale. Each degree refers to the relative position of a particular note to the tonic, the first and main note of the scale from which each octave is assumed to begin. Degrees are useful for indicating the size of intervals and chords, and whether they are major or minor.
In future posts we will be exploring the leading tone concept as being a note that resolves or leads to a note a half-step above or below. This is important not only for melodic but also for harmonic purposes since this creates a feeling of resolution, participates in the tension and release cycles and provides movement to the harmonic and melodic flow.
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