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Intervals
The distance between two notes

ON THIS PAGE (click on title to jump to subject)
Intro to Intervals Hear The Intervals
Interval Song Association Chart Worksheets

 

INTERVALS

An interval is the distance bewteen two notes. Think of intervals as the root note of the major scale with another note of the scale on top. In the major scale the intervals are either all called 'major' or 'perfect' (the 4th & 5th).
These are called DIATONIC INTERVALS. Diatonic means within the same key. So diatonic intervals are all the intervals in the major scale, where the bottom note is the root note or first note of the scale. EG in C Major:

All the other intervals are called CHROMATIC INTERVALS (not in the major scale):

To Build Intervals: Always build your interval based on the bottom note. WORK OUT THE MAJOR/PERFECT INTERVAL FIRST theh change it if you need a minor/augmented or diminished one.

COMPOUND INTERVALS are intervals that are bigger than an octave. So C to D an octave up can be called a COMPOUND MAJOR 2nd or a MAJOR 9th.

 

 

HEAR THE INTERVALS

A good way to learn what intervals sound like is by song association. Below is a list of songs which start their melody with a certain interval. HERE is a chart with all these songs and more listed. See you if can work out some of your own.

INTERVAL EG in C Semitones
Apart
SOUNDS LIKE
Unison C-C 0 Beethoven's 5th
Minor 2nd C-Db 1 Jaws
Major 2nd C-D 2 Eastenders
Minor 3rd C-Eb 3 Greensleeves
Major 3rd C-E 4 While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks By Night
Perfect 4th C-F 5 Here comes the bride
Augmented 4th C-F# 6 The Simpsons
Diminished 5th C-Gb 6 The Simpsons
Perfect 5th C-G 7 Twinkle twinkle little star
Augmented 5th C-G# 8 Close Every Door To Me (Joseph)
Minor 6th C-Ab 8 Close Every Door To Me (Joseph)
Major 6th C-A 9 My Way (And now...)
Minor 7th C-Bb 10 Somewhere (Westside Story)
Major 7th C-B 11 Don't Know Why, Norah Jones
Octave C-C 12 Over The Rainbow

 

SING THE INTERVALS

Here's a great way to learn your intervals - using Django Bates' specially written song

 

WORKSHEETS for INTERVALS

Intervals 1 Compound Intervals

 

GOOD LUCK! Any problems please find a friend who understands and get them to help you out or book a lesson with a theory teacher. Don't suffer in silence. x


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