Answer: Usually the term "leading tone" is applied to the 7th degree in a major scale or the raised 7th degree in a minor scale. For example, B in the key of C, or G# in the key of A minor. ... A leading tone would be part of a dominant chord (the V or V7 chord, or the vii dim.
- How do you find the leading tone?
- Do minor scales have a leading tone?
- Why do you raise the leading tone in a minor key?
- How do you create a leading tone in a minor key?
How do you find the leading tone?
While the scale degrees for the first six notes are the same for both major and minor scales, the seventh one is special. If the seventh note is a half step below the tonic, it is called a leading tone. If the seventh note is a half step below the tonic, it is called a leading note (or “leading tone”).
Do minor scales have a leading tone?
Because of this construction, the 7th degree of the harmonic minor scale functions as a leading tone to the tonic because it is a semitone lower than the tonic, rather than a whole tone lower than the tonic as it is in natural minor scales.
Why do you raise the leading tone in a minor key?
In classical circles, the phrase 'raise the leading tone' means to sharpen the major 7 (B-natural in a C major scale) very slightly so that it 'leads' into the tonic (C). The converse is also true, in that flat notes can be lowered slightly to 'lead' into the next note.
How do you create a leading tone in a minor key?
Changing the VII to a Leading Tone
The leading tone is used to “lead” into the tonic a half-step above it. In the natural minor, the note is a whole note below the tonic, making it a sub-tonic, but lets try raising this by a half-step to make it a leading tone.