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6.3.3 Harmonic Scale, Harmonic Intervals, and Related Terms
The terms harmonic scale, harmonic intervals, and harmonic degrees all have melodic counterparts. Melody and harmony, while identifiably different, relate to each other so intimately that similar terms are used to describe and understand their individual natures.
Just as melody is organized by scale degrees, intervals, and scales, so harmony is organized by harmonic degrees, harmonic intervals, and harmonic scales (Table 37 below).
TABLE 37 Basic Terms, Melody vs Harmony
Melodic Terms |
Harmonic Terms |
|---|---|
| Notes are identified as scale degrees. Each note has an assigned Arabic number, 1, 2, 3, 4, etc., identifying its scale position. | Chords are identified as harmonic degrees. Each chord has an assigned Roman numeral, I, II, III, IV, etc., identifying the whole chord, although named for the root note. |
| Note-to-note succession—a tune or melody—proceeds by melodic intervals. | Chord-to-chord succession—a chord progression—proceeds by harmonic intervals. |
| A diatonic order of seven notes, plus the eighth note which repeats the first at a higher pitch, is called a melodic scale (major or minor). | The harmonic order of seven chords is called the harmonic scale. (As you’ll soon see, there are 12 harmonic scales.) |
Chapters 4 and 5 covered the melodic terms in Table 37 in detail. Now to tackle the harmonic terms, one at a time.