Learn Guitar Quick – Music Fundamentals – Intervals

Introduction

An interval is the tonal distance between two notes or, stated differently, it is the number of whole and half steps between two notes. Educated musicians have specific names for each interval. These names will be presented and discussed in this article.

Basic Interval Terminology

Any interval of one octave (6 whole steps) or less is known as a simple interval. Any interval spanning more than an octave is referred to as a compound interval.
Simple Intervals

Simple intervals are given names corresponding to the scale degrees. So, for instance, the interval between the first and second notes in the scale is called a major 2nd and the interval between the first and third notes in the scale is called a major 3rd, and so on. The following list gives us the interval names for intervals smaller than one octave. Note that each interval name is composed of two parts-the interval size (e.g. 3rd, 5th, 6th) and the interval quality (e.g. minor, perfect, augmented). The interval size indicates the distance or span of the interval, whereas the interval quality gives us insight into the nature of the interval's sound. Note also that some intervals have two alternate names (e.g. a diminished 5th is the same as an augmented 4th).

Perfect Unison - 0 steps

Minor 2nd - 1 half step

Major 2nd - 1 whole step

Minor 3rd - 1 ½ steps

Major 3rd - 2 whole steps

Perfect 4th - 2 ½ steps

Diminished - 3 whole steps

Augmented 4 - 3 whole steps

Perfect 5th - 3 ½ steps

Minor 6th - 4 whole steps

Augmented 5th - 4 whole steps

Major 6th - 4 ½ steps

Diminished 7th - 4 ½ steps

Minor 7th - 5 whole steps

Major 7th - 5 ½ steps

Octave - 6 whole steps

The major scale contains only two interval qualities: major (of course) and perfect. The other three intervals (minor, diminished and augmented) can be derived from the major and perfect intervals by adding or subtracting a half step.

Deriving Minor, Diminished and Augmented Intervals

When we perform these half step modifications to create minor, diminished and augmented intervals, we may notice that the interval size does not change-only the quality. There are four rules for defining these interval derivations:

1) A major interval which is lowered or contracted by a half step becomes a minor interval. Thus a major 3rd (2 whole steps) which is lowered by a half step (1 ½ steps) becomes a minor 3rd. Or a major 7th lowered by a half step becomes a minor 7th. Note, as we pointed out earlier, that the quality of the interval changed but the interval distance remained the same.

2) A perfect interval which is lowered or contracted by a half step becomes a diminished interval.

3) A major interval which is raised or expanded by a half step becomes an augmented interval.

4) A perfect interval which is raised or expanded by a half step becomes an augmented interval.

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