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In music
Music

Music is an art form whose media is sound organized in time. Common elements of music are pitch , rhythm , dynamics , and the sonic qualities of timbre and texture ....
, the mediant is the third degree
Degree (music)

In music theory, a scale degree is the name of a particular note of a scale in relation to the Tonic . The degrees of the traditional major and minor scales may be identified several ways:...
 of the diatonic scale, being the "middle" note of the tonic
Tonic (music)

The tonic is the first note of a scale in the tonality method of musical composition. The chord #The Triad formed on the tonic note, the tonic chord, is thus the most significant chord ....
 triad
Triad (music)

In music and music theory, a triad is a three-note chord that can be stacked in thirds. Its members, when actually stacked in thirds, from lowest pitched tone to highest, are called:...
.

In music theory
Music theory

Music theory is the field of study that deals with how music works. It examines the language and notation of music. It identifies patterns that govern composer techniques....
, the mediant chord is symbolized by the Roman numeral III if it is major or iii if it is minor.

For example, in the C major scale
Major scale

In music theory, the major scale or Ionian mode scale is one of the diatonic scale Musical scales. It is made up of seven distinct notes, plus an eighth which duplicates the first an octave higher....
 (white keys on a piano, starting on C), the mediant is the note E; and the mediant chord
Chord (music)

In music and music theory a chord is a set of two or more different note that sound simultaneously. Most often, in European-influenced music, chords are tertian Sonority that can be constructed as stacks of thirds relative to some underlying musical scale....
 is E-minor consisting of the notes E, G, and B. Therefore, Em is the iii chord in the C major scale.






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In music
Music

Music is an art form whose media is sound organized in time. Common elements of music are pitch , rhythm , dynamics , and the sonic qualities of timbre and texture ....
, the mediant is the third degree
Degree (music)

In music theory, a scale degree is the name of a particular note of a scale in relation to the Tonic . The degrees of the traditional major and minor scales may be identified several ways:...
 of the diatonic scale, being the "middle" note of the tonic
Tonic (music)

The tonic is the first note of a scale in the tonality method of musical composition. The chord #The Triad formed on the tonic note, the tonic chord, is thus the most significant chord ....
 triad
Triad (music)

In music and music theory, a triad is a three-note chord that can be stacked in thirds. Its members, when actually stacked in thirds, from lowest pitched tone to highest, are called:...
.

In music theory
Music theory

Music theory is the field of study that deals with how music works. It examines the language and notation of music. It identifies patterns that govern composer techniques....
, the mediant chord is symbolized by the Roman numeral III if it is major or iii if it is minor.

For example, in the C major scale
Major scale

In music theory, the major scale or Ionian mode scale is one of the diatonic scale Musical scales. It is made up of seven distinct notes, plus an eighth which duplicates the first an octave higher....
 (white keys on a piano, starting on C), the mediant is the note E; and the mediant chord
Chord (music)

In music and music theory a chord is a set of two or more different note that sound simultaneously. Most often, in European-influenced music, chords are tertian Sonority that can be constructed as stacks of thirds relative to some underlying musical scale....
 is E-minor consisting of the notes E, G, and B. Therefore, Em is the iii chord in the C major scale. Also, in the A natural minor scale
Minor scale

A minor scale in music theory is a diatonic scale with a third scale degree at an Interval of a minor third above the Tonic . While this definition encompasses Musical mode with the minor third, such as Dorian mode, the term may more usually refer only to the natural minor, harmonic minor, and melodic minor scales, descri...
 (same white keys, but now starting on A), the medient is the note C; and the mediant chord is C (or C-major) consisting of the notes C, E, and G. Therefore, C is the III chord in the A (natural) minor scale.

"Mediant" also refers to a relationship of musical keys. For example, relative to the key of A (natural) minor, the key of C major is the mediant, and often serves as a mid-way point between I and V (hence the name). Tonicization
Tonicization

In music, tonicization is the treatment of a pitch other than the overall Tonic as a temporary tonic in a musical composition. Tonicization is achieved through the use of the scale and harmonies of the tonicized key....
 or modulation
Modulation (music)

In music, modulation is most commonly the act or process of changing from one key to another. This may or may not be accompanied by a change in key signature....
 to the mediant is quite common in pieces written in the minor mode, and usually serves as the second theme group in sonata forms
Sonata form

Sonata form is a musical form that has been used widely since the early Classical music era. While it is typically used in the first Movement of multimovement pieces, it is sometimes employed in subsequent movements as well....
, since it is very easy to tonicize III in minor (no need to alternate notes). Tonicization of III in major is quite rare in classical harmony, compared with, say, modulation to the V
Dominant (music)

In music, the dominant is the fifth degree of the Scale . For example, in the C major scale , the dominant is the note G; and the dominant chord uses the notes G, B, and D....
 in major, but mediant tonicization in major is an important feature of late romantic music
Romantic music

In music, romanticism is a term, often considered misleading, and concept derived from literature traditionally defined by attributes including, "interest in nature, medieval chivalry, mysticism, [and] remoteness [ Social alienation and Solitude]"....
.

In German theory derived from Hugo Riemann
Hugo Riemann

Karl Wilhelm Julius Hugo Riemann was a Germany music theory. He should not be confused with the mathematician Bernhard Riemann.Riemann was born at Grossmehlra, near Sondershausen....
 the mediant in major is considered the dominant parallel
Dominant parallel

In music theory, the dominant parallel is terminology used in German theory derived mainly from Hugo Riemann, Dp, in major, and dP, in minor, is the relative key to the dominant and is thus considered to have or fulfill the function of the dominant....
, Dp, and in minor the tonic parallel
Tonic parallel

In music theory, the tonic parallel is a diatonic function. It is the relative key to the Tonic , and is thus considered to have or fulfill the function of the tonic....
, tP.