The scale and submediant triad in the C major (top) and C minor (bottom) Scale.
In music, the submediant is the sixth degree () of a diatonic scale. The submediant ("lower mediant") is named thus because it is halfway between the tonic and the subdominant ("lower dominant")[1] or because its position below the tonic is symmetrical to that of the mediant above.[2] (See the figure in the Degree (music) article.)
In the movable do solfège system, the submediant is sung as la in a major mode and fa in a minor mode. It is occasionally called superdominant,[3] as the degree above the dominant. This is its normal name (sus-dominante) in French.
In Roman numeral analysis, the triad formed on the submediant is typically symbolized by "VI" if it is a major triad (the default in a minor mode) and by "vi" if it is a minor triad (the default in a major mode).
The term submediant may also refer to a relationship of musical keys. For example, relative to the key of C major, the key of A minor is the submediant. In a major key, the submediant key is the relative minor. Modulation (change of key) to the submediant is relatively rare, compared with modulation to the dominant in a major key or modulation to the mediant in a minor key.
^Benward & Saker (2003). Music: In Theory and Practice, Vol. I, p. 33. 7th edition. ISBN 978-0-07-294262-0. "The lower mediant halfway between tonic and lower dominant (subdominant)."
^Forte, Allen (1979). Tonal Harmony, p. 120. 3rd edition. Holt, Rinehart, and Wilson. ISBN 0-03-020756-8. "The triad on VI is called the submediant because it occupies a position below the tonic triad analogous to that occupied by the mediant above the tonic triad.
^Ebenezer Prout, Harmony: its theory and practice, 09/09/2010
In music, the submediant is the sixth degree () of a diatonic scale. The submediant ("lower mediant") is named thus because it is halfway between the...
Chromatic submediants in major (all the progressions below are tonic–x–tonic, vi = I–vi–I) vi VI ♭VI ♭vi Problems playing these files? See media help...
major, modulates to the submediant G major, and String Quartet No. 13 in the same key modulating to the flattened submediant key of G♭ major. Tchaikovsky...
or significance. For example, the secondary triad on the sixth degree [submediant] of the scale of C major, a-c-e, or rather c-e-a, is a Tonic 'parallel...
In music, a major seventh chord is a seventh chord in which the third is a major third above the root and the seventh is a major seventh above the root...
Mediant – D-sharp minor Subdominant – E major Dominant – F-sharp major Submediant – G-sharp minor Leading-tone – A-sharp diminished Major and minor List...
pseudo-phrygian, in which the seventh and often fifth are given prominence, and submediant-octave mode. Some mediant-octave mode examples are: Ludwig van Beethoven's...
modulates only to closely related keys (the dominant, supertonic, and submediant). Given a major key tonic (I), the related keys are: ii (supertonic, the...
Mediant – A-flat major Subdominant – B-flat minor Dominant – C minor Submediant – D-flat major Subtonic – E-flat major Famous pieces in the key of F minor...
The other secondary functions are the secondary mediant, the secondary submediant, and the secondary subtonic. Barbershop seventh chord – A major triad...
diminished Mediant - C major Subdominant - D minor Dominant - E minor Submediant - F major Subtonic - G major Johann Sebastian Bach English Suite No. 2...
Schubert's harmonic language is innovative, incorporating many mediants and submediants. This is evident from almost the beginning of the piece: after stating...
the major scale, that is, it is formed by starting on the sixth degree (submediant) of the major scale. For example, if the Aeolian mode is used in its all-white-note...
is not followed by the expected tonic, but by another one, often the submediant." This is the most important irregular resolution, most commonly V7–vi...
diminished Mediant - E-flat major Subdominant - F minor Dominant - G minor Submediant - A-flat major Subtonic - B-flat major Charles-Valentin Alkan Prelude...
– A minor Mediant – B minor Subdominant – C major Dominant – D major Submediant – E minor Leading-tone – F-sharp diminished In Baroque music, G major...
a major character in the 1950s American TV series Private Secretary Submediant chord, symbolized "VI" or "vi" VI (Circle Jerks album), 1987 VI (The Danse...
third apart: if the first chord is the tonic the second is the minor submediant. The spider chord fingering also allows access to a major seventh chord...
Scale degree Tonic Supertonic Mediant Subdominant Dominant Submediant Leading tone Conventional notation I ii iii IV V vi viio Alternative notation I II...
Global Information
) of a diatonic scale. The submediant ("lower mediant") is named thus because it is halfway between the tonic and the subdominant ("lower dominant")[1] or because its position below the tonic is symmetrical to that of the mediant above.[2] (See the figure in the Degree (music) article.)