1. the sixth degree of a major or minor scale
Usage: music theory

Examples

• The submediant chord creates a sense of movement away from the tonic.
• In C major, the submediant is the note A.
• She analyzed the progression from tonic to submediant in the Bach chorale.
• The composer used the submediant to modulate to the relative minor key.
• Music students learn to identify the submediant as the sixth scale degree.
• The submediant provides harmonic color in classical compositions.