A Bit About Intervals

In order to study intervals, let's consider (as ever!) C Major scale.          1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Octave A couple of important points before we start: An interval is essentially the 'distance' between two notes. Intervals are always viewed from the point of view of their lowest note.

Early music used exclusively what we call 'Perfect Intervals' as they were considered sacred.       Perfect fourth Perfect fifth Perfect octave Perfect unison

The remaining intervals in the major scale we call unsurprisingly 'Major Intervals' thus:

    Major second Major third Major sixth Major seventh

If we flatten a major interval, the resulting interval we call a 'Minor Interval' thus:

     Minor second Minor third Minor sixth Minor seventh

Copyright © Pete Cook October 2007 A Bit About Intervals Page 2 There are two more types of interval: Diminished intervals and Augmented intervals. You'll find that some of these intervals sound the same as some we've met already, but it is important to understand the sounds and 'spellings' of these intervals for reasons of 'correct musical grammar'. Of course, in reality you're only going to meet some of these in everyday musical life, the others reside pretty much in 'Theoryland'.

If we flatten a perfect interval, the resultant interval we call a 'diminished interval'     Diminished unison Diminished fourth Diminished fifth Diminished octave (sounds like maj 3rd) (sounds like maj 7th)

Similarly, flattening minor intervals gives diminished intervals      Diminished second Diminished third Diminished sixth Diminished seventh (sounds like perf unis) (sounds like maj 2nd) (sounds like perf 5th) (sounds like maj 6th)

If we sharpen a perfect interval, the resultant interval we call an 'augmented interval'.     Augmented unison Augmented fourth Augmented fifth Augmented octave (sounds like min 2nd) a.k.a. 'Tritone' (sounds like min 6th) (sounds like min 9th) (sounds like dim 5th)

Similarly, sharpening major intervals gives augmented intervals.     Augmented second Augmented third Augmented sixth Augmented seventh (sounds like min 3rd) (sounds like perf 4th) (sounds like min 7th) (sounds like perf octave)

Don't worry if all this seems a little daunting, I've covered intervals in much greater detail than you'll probably need here, but I think it's important to get 'the big picture'.