Musical Intervals

In this lesson we're going to learn about music intervals. A music interval is the distance between two notes.

We'll divide the musical intervals to two groups. The first one is the melodic interval group and the second is the harmonic interval group.

When are we Going to Use the Different Intervals?

A melodic musical interval is being created when you play two notes one after the other successively.

A harmonic interval is being created when the notes are being played in the same time (simultaneously)

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We use the musical intervals for a few important issues in music.

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But let's take it one step at a time.

In music we measure the musical intervals according to the number of half tones between two notes.

The distance between each key and its closest upper or lower key is a half tone which is the smallest interval used in Western music.

Now if you'll look at the piano you'll realize that the distance between a white key and a black would be half a tone accepts from two places.

The distance between E and F and B and C is half a tone as well since there isn't a black key between them.

Introducing the musical intervals

The musical intervals come in various sizes: Unisons, Seconds, Thirds, Fourths, Fifths, Sixths, Sevenths and Eights (Octaves).

When we measure a musical interval we will always start with the lower note of the interval going to the higher note. We'll count the lower note as one.

Some are describes as major intervals (M) or minor ones (m). Other are perfect (P) When we raise an interval in half a tone it becomes Augmented (A) and when we lower it in a half a tone we name it Diminished (D).

Way back in history in the Gregorian music the monks used to sing in two voices or more moving in perfect musical intervals which are the Unisons, 4ths, 5ths and octaves. These are the perfect intervals.

Later on as music developed people like the sound of the Major and Minor intervals and by doing that they slowly changed the way music sounded from a music that moves between the different intervals creating tension and release between them. 2nds, 3rds, 6ths, and 7ths can be found as Major and Minor.

Unisons

When you play a note and then you repeat the same note you're creating a melodic intervals of a unison (also called Prima in Italian).

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The Unison doesn't function as a harmonic musical interval since there's no space between the first note and the second note.

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Seconds

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The song "stormy weather" starts with a minor second.

If you play these two notes together you'll hear the harmonic interval which is being created sounds really unpleasant and dissonant.

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The Major Second - When you play a note and then play the next note a tone higher or lower (No matter if it's a white key or a black key) you play a melodic interval of a major second.

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Thirds

The Minor Third - A distance of half one and a half tone between a note and its successive followers creates a melodic interval of a minor third.

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Just like in the song "The Impossible Dream" or "So long, farewell" from the sound of music (going up).

As a harmonic interval we treat this minor interval as a mellow one. It's not for nothing that we're going to base all the minor chords on this minor third interval.

The Major Third - The melodic major third interval which is created by playing a note and then a successive note two tones higher is referred as a more optimistic one.

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When you play a major third as a harmonic interval you'll realize it sounds quite cheerful or optimistic (I must say that reacting to sound is rather subjective yet some standards can be roughly made).

Therefore later when we'll discuss major piano chord we'll see that they're based on the harmonic major third interval.

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Perfect Fourth

The melodic interval of a fourth is not a major and minor interval but a perfect one.

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Play a note and then play the next one two and a half tone higher and you'll get a fourth just like in the song: "Here comes the Bride".

As I mentioned before this interval was often being sang in the Gregorian music.

When my students hear the harmonic interval of a fourth they think of church bells.

Tritone - Raised Fourths - Diminished Fifth

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The melodic raised fourth is the most dissonant interval in western music. Maybe that's why the siren of an ambulance would sound a raised fourth interval in case of emergency.

A melodic raised fourth (or a diminished fifth, depends on how you look at it) are created when you play a note and then the next tone 3 tones higher.

Later as we discuss voice leading we'll learn when we chose to name this three tone interval as a raised fourth or a diminished fifth. It has to with the way this dissonant interval is being solved.

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The song "Maria from west side story is starting with a raised fourth.

This harmonic interval is called tritone (three tones) which is the most dissonant chord in western music.

Perfect Fifth

The melodic perfect fifth is being created when a note is being and then a successive note is being played three tones and a half higher just like the beginning of the music theme of "Star wars".

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The harmonic interval of a perfect fifth sound like church bells as well. Some students of mine mix the pure sound of the perfect fifth with the sound of the perfect fourth. That's logical since when you inverse a fifth down you'll get a perfect fourth.

Once you're ear will be able to distinguish between the two different note of the interval you'll be able to clearly tell between them.

Sixths

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The minor sixth - is the distance between a note and its successive note played four tones higher.

This melodic interval sounds quite mellow as well as the minor third.

Well, both of them are minor intervals so that explains that...

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The Major Sixth - Do you know the beginning of the song "I did it my way"? It starts with a major sixth which is created by playing a tone and then its successive tone four and a half tone higher. The NBC theme music starts with a major sixth as well.

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As a harmonic major interval this interval sounds rather optimistic as well as the major third.

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Sevenths

The minor seventh - is created when a note is played and then the next note is being played five tones higher. I recognize this melodic interval right away since it sounds like the beginning of the chorus of the song "The Winner Take It All" by Abba.

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The song Somewhere from West Side Story starts with a minor seventh as well so you could use that if you're not an Abba fan.

As a harmonic interval this interval is a dissonant one we'll see how to solve the tension later.

The major seventh - Sounds quite dissonant as well. It is create by playing a note and its successive note five and a half tone higher just like in Bali Hai from South Pacific.

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Perfect Eights

When a melodic interval of a perfect eight is being played you play a note and the next note six tones higher. This interval is also named an "Octave".

The two notes you're playing are the same only the second note is played in a higher register on the piano.

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The song "Somewhere over the rainbow" from the wizard of Oz starts with a melodic interval of an octave.

Harmonically speaking the interval of an octave sounds rather empty since it contains of one note, only played in two registers.

We're done with the first part of this musical intervals lesson.
Click here to go to learn more about the different music intervals and check a table which summerize what we've learned so far.