The critical scale degree that determines whether a scale is characterized as major or minor is the third degree. In a major scale, the third degree is a major third above the root note, while in a minor scale, the third degree is a minor third above the root note.
This difference in the third degree significantly influences the emotional quality of the music. Major scales tend to convey feelings of happiness, brightness, and positivity, while minor scales are commonly associated with sadness, melancholy, and a darker emotional quality. The emotional perception of music is deeply tied to these intervals, with the major third providing a sense of resolution and uplift, while the minor third can evoke introspection or longing.
In addition to the third degree, other scale degrees and their alterations (such as the seventh degree) can further enhance the emotional characteristics of a piece, but the major or minor quality primarily hinges on that third degree.
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