Why Is It Called Submediant?
Sixth Scale Degree: Submediant the Sixth Degree out of the Scale Degrees Is Called the Submediant. Sub, in Latin Meaning Below, Is Used for This Degree on a...
Why is the submediant called that?
Name. The term mediant appeared in English in 1753 to refer to the note "midway between the tonic and the dominant". The term submediant must have appeared soon after to similarly denote the note midway between the tonic and the subdominant.
Why is the sixth called the submediant?
The third note is called the mediant since it is in the middle of the tonic and dominant. Likewise, the sixth note is called the submediant since it is in the middle of the upper tonic and subdominant.