Intervals
INTERVALS
In music, an INTERVAL is the distance between two notes.
A Melodic Interval is the distance between two notes which sound one after the other.
A Harmonic Interval is the distance between two notes which sound at the same time.
We use terms like Major 3rd, minor 2nd, Perfect 4th, or diminished 5th– to describe how far apart 2 notes are.
So each interval is given a name that includes a description of its Quality and its distance or Number.
The Quality of an interval will be described as one of these: Major, minor, Perfect, Augmented, or diminished.
The Number of an interval is simply the number of letter names encompassed by the notes. Or if it seems easier,
start with the bottom note and count lines and spaces until you’ve included the top note. (The names or positions
of both notes forming the interval are counted: A-B-C-D = a 4th; line space line space line = a 5th.)
Melodic Intervals (by Number)
&
w
w w w œ w w œ œ w w œ œ œw wœ œ œ œ wœ
2
1
1
3
2
1
3rd
2nd
4
3
2
1
2
ww
Unison
ww
2nd
3
5
1
3
2
ww
ww
3rd
4
5
6
1
6th
5th
4th
Harmonic Intervals (by Number)
&
4
w
w
4th
5th
w
w
2
œ œ œ œw
4
3
5
wœ
7
6
1
7th
w
w
6th
w
œ œœœœ
2 3
P1
M2
M3
P4
P5
M6
7
5 6
8
Octave
(8th)
w
w
7th
* Note that a Unison (also known as Perfect Prime) is the interval formed by two identical notes.
MAJOR
AND
INTERVALS
Perfect
UnisonPERFECT
Major 2nd
Major 3rd
4
M7
Octave
P8
ww
w
w
&
w
w
w
œ
w
w
œ
œ
& ww ww w œw w w w œ wœ w w œ wœ œ w w œwœ œ œ ww œ œ œ œ w w œ œ œwœ
Perfect 4th
Perfect 5th
Major 6th
Major 7th
6
Major and Perfect intervals
are defined
by the distances
we see in4 a 5Major
Scale.3 4 5 6 7
5
3 4
3 4
3
3
2
2
2
2
2
2
1
1
1
1 the
1 of the degrees of
(The distance in semitones from
the Tonic1note to each one
Major Scale.)1
Unison
2nd
1 whole step
3rd
2 whole steps
4th
2 1/2 whole steps
5th
3 1/2 whole steps
6th
4 1/2 whole steps
7th
Perfect Octave
2 3
5 1/2 whole steps
4
5
6 7
8
6 whole steps
Octave
(8th)
(W-W-H-W
The PERFECT intervals include the Unison (or Prime), the 4th (W-W-H above the tonic), the 5th
above the tonic), and the Octave or 8th (the note of the same name 8 scale steps higher). These intervals are actually
m2
M2
m3
M3
M7
m7
m6
M6
based on
harmonic
overtones
produced
by 3rd
the Tonicminor
note,
considered
to
be 7th
*perfectly Major
consonant
minor
2nd
Major 2nd naturally
minor 3rd
Major
7th
minor
6thand areMajor
6th
harmonic sounds. All the minor scales even contain the Unison (or P1), Perfect 4th, Perfect7th5th and Octave
(P8)!
Octave
w
w
w
& ww
w
w
w
b
w
6th
ww 2ndw w 3rdb w w 4th w w 5thb w w w w
w w
& w bUnison
w
w
w
w
w
w
w
w
The remaining Major Scale intervals, the 2nd, 3rd, 6th, and 7th are classified as MAJOR intervals.
1 half step
P1
Perfect Unison
&
& ww ∫ww
dim. 2
Unison
Unison
1 whole step
M2
1 1/2 whole steps
M3
2 whole steps
4 whole steps
P4
P5
4 1/2 whole steps
M6
5 whole steps
M7
5 1/2 whole steps
P8
dim. 6
dim. 7
dim. 8w
w
w
w
∫ww
w w∫ w w w b w w w b w
w∫ w
w bw
w
w
w
w
w
w
Major 2nd
dim. 3
1 whole step
1 whole step
Major 3rd
dim. 4
Perfect 4th
dim. 5
Perfect 5th
Major 6th
Major 7th
Perfect Octave
2 whole steps
2 1/2 whole steps
3 1/2 whole steps
4 1/2 whole steps
5 1/2 whole steps
6 whole steps
2 whole steps
3 whole steps
3 1/2 whole steps
4 1/2 whole steps
5 1/2 whole steps
* A soundM2
which is stable
to resolve
consonance. Major
m2 and does not
M3present an urgency
m3
M7 and minor
m7 thirds
M6 is called am6
Major
2ndimperfect
minorconsonances,
2nd
Major
3rd in certain
minor cases
3rd
Major 7thas a dissonance.
minor 7th
minor
6th Fourth
and sixths
are
and
the Major
Perfect
may6thalso function
&
& w w
Aug. 1
Aug. 2
w bw
w # ww
Aug. 3
w b#ww
Aug. 4
w
w #w
Aug. 5
bw
w #w
Aug. 6
w
#
w
w
Aug. 7
b# ww
w
Aug. 8
& w w w œ w w œ œ w w œ œ œ w wœ œ œ œw wœ œ œ œ œw wœœ œœœœ
2
1
1
3
2
3rd
2nd
3
2
1
4
4
3
2
1
1
3
2
4
3
2
1
6th
5th
4th
4
1
4
2 3
Octave
(8th)
7th
MINOR AND DIMINISHED INTERVALS
& ww
w
w
ww
ww
w
w
w
w
M7
m7
Major 7th
dim. Octave
8
Perfect
We can decrease or contract the distance of an interval by lowering the top note or raising the bottom note using
accidentals– flats, sharps or natural signs. The Number of the interval continues to be determined
by counting
7th
Octave
6th
5th
4th
2nd
Unison
staff positions
or letter names,
but the3rdQuality of the
interval is modified.
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ww
• Decreasing any of the Major intervals (M2, M3, M6, M7) by 1/2 step results in a minor interval.
• Decreasing any of the Perfect intervals (P4, P5, P8) by 1/2 step results in a diminished interval.
P1
M2
M3
P4
P5
M6
m6Major 6th
P8
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& w bw
& w bw
w m7b w w dim.b 8ww
m6
w
w
w
w
b
w
minorw
6th
minor
w minorb3rdw w
w
w 7th
w
w
w bw
w bw w
w bw
w bw
bw
b
w
b
w
b
w
w
w
w
w
w
w
& wminorm22nd
& w b ww
& w bw
w ∫b ww
w
w ∫w
Perfectm2
Unison
minor 2nd
Unison
1 half step
m3
Major 2nd
minor 3rd
dim. 4
Major 3rd
m3
Perfect 4thdim. 5 Perfect 5th
dim. 4
minor 6th
minor 7th
dim. 5
1 whole step
2 whole steps
2 1/2 whole steps
3 1/2 whole steps
4 1/2 whole steps
5 1/2 whole steps
6 whole steps
1 1/2 whole steps
2 whole steps
3 whole steps
4 whole steps
5 whole steps
5 1/2 whole steps
1 half
1 m2
1/2 whole steps
2 whole steps
5 whole steps
5 1/2 whole
In addition,
if we go farther
M2step
M3
m3 3 whole steps M6 4 whole stepsm6
M7
m7 steps
m2
dim.
2
m3
dim.
3
m6
dim.
6
m7
dim.
7
Major
2nd
minor
2nd
Major
3rd
minor
3rd
Major
7th
minor
minor
6th
Major
6th
• Decreasing any of the minor intervals by an additional 1/2 step ALSO results in a diminished interval. 7th
minor 2nd
1 whole step
1 half step
1 half step
w b ww
w
w bw
w ∫b ww
w
w ∫w
minor 3rd
dim. 2
m3
minor 3rd
1 half step
Unison
Unison
w
wminorb6thw
w
bw
w
minor 6th
dim. 3
m6
w
b
w
w
w bw
w
bw
w ∫w
w
∫w
w
bw
∫
w w
w ∫w
w
minor 7th
dim. 6
m7
dim. 7
minor 7th
2 whole steps
1 1/2 whole steps
1 1/2 whole steps
1 whole step
4 1/2 whole steps
4 whole steps
4 whole steps
3 1/2 whole steps
5 1/2 whole steps
5 whole steps
5 whole steps
4 1/2 whole steps
1 1/2 whole steps
1 whole step
4 whole steps
3 1/2 whole steps
5 whole steps
4 1/2 whole steps
bw
∫ w∫ w ∫ w∫ w
ww
w
w
w ∫ ww ∫# ww
w dim. 7 dbl. dim. 8
M6
w 6th or awMajor interval
# w by 1/2 step.
An Augmented interval is created by expanding either a Perfect Major
interval
dim. 2
dim. Sound
3
dim. 4 Same Sound
dim. 5
dim. 6 Sound dim. 7
dim. 8
Same
So, going from a Perfect
to a diminished interval
only takes a decrease ofSame
1 semitone (1/2 step) but going from a
& w ∫ w b w ∫ w# w w b w
bw
& w
w
# ww wb ww
AUGMENTED INTERVALS
# ww2
& bm3ww Aug.
b ww 4
#M3
ww dim.
minor 3rd
Major 3rd
Major to diminished interval
takes a decreaseSame
of 2Sound
semitones (1 whole step).
Same Sound
SameMajor
Sound → minor → diminished.
Unison
1 whole step
m3
Aug. 1
& w #w
1 half step
3 whole steps
Aug. 2
M3
dim. 4
Aug. 3 Major 3rd
Aug. 4
minor
3rd2
Aug.
w #w
2 whole steps
w #w
w #w
1 1/2 whole steps
2-1/2 whole steps
3 whole steps
3 1/2 whole steps
M6
Aug.Major
5 6th
w #w
4 whole steps
4 1/2 whole steps
dim. 7
Aug. 6
#w
w
5 1/2 whole steps
dbl. dim. 8
Aug. 7
w
5 whole steps
#w
#w
Aug. 8
w
6 whole steps
6 1/2 whole steps
IDENTIFYING INTERVALS
•
•
•
•
w
w
P1
m2
M2
M3
P4
Aug. 4 dim. 5 P5
m6
M6
m7
M7
P8
First,
count the
letter
namesm3(or lines
and spaces)
to determine the interval’s
number.
Next, think of the low note of your interval as the temporary starting note of a Major Scale.
Count upward the same number of scale steps and compare your note against the Major Scale step.
Determine whether your top note matches exactly with the Major Scale (and is Major or Perfect), or has been
contracted (to minor or diminished), or expanded (to Augmented) to identify the interval’s Quality.
& ww b ww ww b ww
Expanded by
1 semitone
(1/2 Step)
Major Scale
INTERVALS
Contracted by
1 semitone
(1/2 Step)
Contracted by
2 semitones
(1 Whole Step)
Aug. 1
(Augmented 1st)
P1
(Perfect Unison)
Aug. 2
ww
ww
Aug. 3
(Augmented 2nd) (Augmented 3rd)
M2
(Major 2nd)
m2
M3
(Major 3rd)
m3
(minor 2nd)
(minor 3rd)
dim. 2
dim.3
(diminished 2nd) (diminished 2nd)
b ww
# ww
Aug. 4
(Augmented 4th)
P4
(Perfect 4th)
dim. 4
(diminished 4th)
ww
Aug. 5
(Augmented 5th)
P5
(Perfect 5th)
dim. 5
(diminished 5th)
bw
w
w
w
Aug. 6
(Augmented 6th)
M6
(Major 6th)
m6
(minor 6th)
dim. 6
(diminished 6th)
bw
w
w
w
Aug. 7
(Augmented 7th)
M7
(Major 7th)
m7
(minor 7th)
Aug. 8
(Augmented 8th)
P8
(Octave)
dim. 8
(diminished 8th)
dim. 7
(diminished 7th)
IMPORTANT! See Also: Identifying Intervals by Ear