Intervals — the distance between notes
Concept
An interval is the distance between two notes, measured in scale degrees AND quality. Chords are stacked intervals; melodies are intervals one after another.
Naming intervals by quality and number
Every interval has a number (2nd, 3rd, 4th…) AND a quality (major, minor, perfect, diminished, augmented).
- Perfect intervals: 1, 4, 5, 8. They sound stable and consonant.
- Major/minor intervals: 2, 3, 6, 7. They have a 'mood' (major = bright, minor = dark).
- Diminished = perfect or minor lowered another half-step.
- Augmented = perfect or major raised another half-step.
Intervals from the C major scale
Counting up from C: - C → D = Major 2nd (M2, 2 semitones) - C → E = Major 3rd (M3, 4 semitones) - C → F = Perfect 4th (P4, 5 semitones) - C → G = Perfect 5th (P5, 7 semitones) - C → A = Major 6th (M6, 9 semitones) - C → B = Major 7th (M7, 11 semitones) - C → C = Perfect Octave (P8, 12 semitones)
Lower a major to get a minor (M3 → m3 is one fret down). Lower a perfect to get diminished. Raise to get augmented.
Hearing intervals via songs
Match each interval to the start of a familiar tune: - m2: 'Jaws' theme - M2: 'Happy Birthday' - m3: 'Greensleeves' - M3: 'When the Saints' - P4: 'Here Comes the Bride' - TT: 'The Simpsons' (Simp-sons) - P5: 'Twinkle Twinkle' (first two notes) - M6: 'My Bonnie' - M7: 'Take On Me' (chorus jump) - P8: 'Somewhere Over the Rainbow' (first two notes)
Key takeaways
- •Intervals have number AND quality.
- •P5 = 7 semitones; M3 = 4; m3 = 3; octave = 12.
- •Chords are intervals stacked. Knowing intervals = understanding chord construction.
Glossary
- Consonance
- Intervals that sound stable: octaves, fifths, thirds, fourths.
- Dissonance
- Intervals that sound tense and want to resolve: 2nds, 7ths, tritones.
- Tritone
- The interval of 6 semitones. Either #4 or b5 depending on context.
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