What do we call the scale degree name for notes starting on the seventh note of major scales and harmonic minor scales?

The scale degree name for notes starting on the seventh note of major scales and harmonic minor scales is referred to as the leading tone. This term is specifically used to describe the seventh scale degree in these contexts because it is one half step below the tonic (the first note of the scale) and has a strong tendency to resolve up to the tonic. In a major scale, for instance, if we take C major, the leading tone would be B, which resolves naturally to C. Similarly, in a harmonic minor scale, the seventh degree is raised to create this leading tone effect, enhancing the pull towards the tonic.

In contrast, other terms like subtonic, dominant, and tonic refer to different degrees of the scale and serve distinct functions within musical harmony. The subtonic typically describes the flat seventh degree in natural minor scales (which is a whole step below the tonic), dominant refers to the fifth scale degree, and tonic is always the first degree of the scale. Understanding the role of the leading tone is crucial for grasping musical resolution and tonal hierarchy.