Editing Leading tone (section)

=== Seventh scale degree (or lower leading tone) ===
Typically, when people speak of ''the'' leading tone, they mean the seventh scale degree ({{music|scale|7}}) of the major scale, which has a strong affinity for and leads melodically to the [[tonic (music)|tonic]].{{sfn|Benward and Saker|2003|loc=203}} It is sung as ''si'' in [[Solfège#Movable do solfège|movable-do solfège]]. For example, in the F major scale, the leading note is the note E.

: <score sound="1">  {
\override Score.TimeSignature #'stencil = ##f
\relative f' {
  \clef treble \key f \major \time 7/4 f4 g a bes c d \once \override NoteHead.color = #red e f2
} }
</score>

As a [[diatonic function]], the leading tone is the seventh scale degree of any [[diatonic scale]] when the distance between it and the tonic is a single [[semitone]]. In diatonic scales in which there is a [[whole tone]] between the seventh scale degree and the tonic, such as the [[Mixolydian mode]], the seventh degree is called the ''[[subtonic]]''. However, in modes without a leading tone, such as [[Dorian mode|Dorian]] and Mixolydian, a raised seventh is often featured during cadences,{{sfn|Benward and Saker|2009|loc=4}} such as in the [[harmonic minor scale]].

A leading tone outside of the current scale is called a ''[[secondary chords|secondary]] leading tone'', leading to a ''secondary tonic''. It functions to briefly [[tonicization|tonicize]] a scale tone (usually the 5th degree){{sfn|Berry|1987|loc=55}} as part of a [[secondary dominant]] chord. In the second measure of [[Ludwig van Beethoven|Beethoven]]'s ''[[Waldstein Sonata]]'' (shown below), the F{{music|sharp}}'s function as secondary leading tones, which resolve to G in the next measure.{{sfn|Berry|1987|loc=55}}

:<score sound="1" lang="lilypond"> {
#(set-global-staff-size 18)
{ \new PianoStaff <<
  \new Staff <<
  \new Voice \relative c {
    \once\override DynamicLineSpanner.staff-padding = #4
    \clef bass \time 4/4
    \tempo "Allegro con brio" 4 = 176
    \override DynamicLineSpanner.staff-padding = #2.5
    r8\pp <c e> <c e> <c e> <c e> <c e> <c e> <c e>
    <c e> <c e> <c e> <c e> <c e> <c e> <d fis> <d fis>
    <d g>4.( b'16 a) g8 r r4
    \clef treble \grace { cis''8( } d4~)( d16 c b a g4-.) r4
  } 
>>
  \new Staff { \relative c, {
   \clef bass
   c8 <c g'> <c g'> <c g'> <c g'> <c g'> <c g'> <c g'>
   <c g'> <c g'> <c g'> <c g'> <c g'> <c g'> <c a'> <c a'>
   <b g'> <b g'> <b g'> <b g'> <b g'> <b g'> <b g'> <b g'>
   <b g'> <b g'> <b g'> <b g'> <b g'>[ <b g'> <b g'> <b g'>]
  } }
>> } } 
</score>