Music Theory Intervals

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"Music Theory Intervals"
The Distance between Two Notes

Let's explore the element of music theory intervals. The distance between two notes is the determination of an interval.

What is special about intervals is that they are easily defined and shown by the number of half steps form a starting note.

We are not going to attempt to explain the pitch differences but only explain the interval idea. The names will give clues and explore them in wikipedia will give you an in depth understanding. We are most concerned at this stage with the application or math of the music theroy intervals.

Interval Names Overview

The names of an intervals are stated in such terms as a second, third, fourth, fifth, and continue up to fifthteenths.

What is more difficult is that for a name it can be modified for different position with some of these modifiers M=major, m or (-) = minor, #=sharp, b=flat, octave=8va which change the position. We might say minor 6th. which is a half step down from a sixth.

Now that can start to be confusing and we are not about to let that happen.

Music Theory Intervals in One Octave:

We have defined the 7 base note names, A - B - C - D - E - F - G. By using the keyboard below starting on the C note we can examine the basic interval from 2nd to 8th (octave) by using just the white keys. (This is the key of C, the C scale, and has no sharp or flats, the black keys)

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2nd to Octave:

The first rule of working with intervals is that the note you start with is called 1 or unison. Pretend like you were placing the same note on two instruments the interval between them would be one or in unison playing the same note.

Going from C to the next white key will give you an interval. C to D is a 2nd. C to E is a 3rd and so forth until you get C to C which is the 8th, and Octave.

The following measure shows the intervals for the C octave.

Here are the rules for finding music theory intervals.

Interval	Example	Label
Second (2 half steps)	C to D	2
Third (4 half steps)	C to E	3
Perfect Fourth (5 half steps)	C to F	4
Perfect Fifth (7 half steps)	C to G	5
Sixth (9 half steps)	C to A	6
(Major) Seventh (11 half steps)	C to B	M7
Octave (12 half steps)	C to C (8va)	8

The Seventh is labeled major because the other seventh we will explore later is the dominate 7th and is typically referred to when we say seventh.

We are currently developing a short workbook to explore the other modifications of these intervals to make them easier to understand and learn. What you have just learned above are the intervals related to the major scale. When applied any major scale can be created using these intervals and half step rules.

Making the Interval Minor

The 2nd, 3rd, 5th, 6th, and 7th can all be made minors by steping down a half step.

Next: Minor Intervals

One you know the major and minor intervals it's time to move onto the next higher octave. Learn about the extended intervals and how the jazz chords you've seen are acutally called out.

There are other rules to explore in detail on later lessons associated with music theory intervals with scales and chords.

Learning Resources

Basic Music Theory Elements: Rhythm | Notes | Scales | Chords | Key Signatures