Behind every unforgettable melody lie the building blocks known as musical intervals. These intervals are the distance or pitch gap between two notes, and they play an important role in shaping the melodies we love. In this blog post, we’ll delve into the world of musical intervals, exploring what they are, how they work, and their significance in the landscape of music.
Types of Musical Intervals
Musical intervals can be classified into different types based on their size and quality. The primary types of musical intervals are:
Half Steps and Whole Steps
Half steps and whole steps, also known as semitones and whole tones, are fundamental units of measurement in Western music. A half step is the smallest interval in western music, and a whole step is a combination of two half steps. Understanding these fundamental intervals is essential for building scales, chords, and understanding the other types of intervals that we are going to cover because they are all built up of half steps and whole steps.
Perfect Intervals
Perfect Unison (P1): The smallest interval, which occurs when two notes are the same.
- Perfect Fourth (P4): A stable and consonant interval spanning five half steps.
- Perfect Fifth (P5): Another stable and consonant interval, encompassing seven half steps.
- Perfect Octave (P8): This interval is double the frequency of the unison and is also highly stable and consonant.
Perfect intervals are termed “perfect” due to their acoustic properties. They have simple frequency ratios that are easy to express in whole numbers compared to other intervals. For example, a perfect fifth has a frequency ratio of 3:2, meaning the higher note vibrates three times for every two vibrations of the lower note. This simplicity contributes to their pleasing and stable sound.
Major and Minor Intervals
- Major Second (M2): Consists of two half steps and is larger than a minor second.
- Minor Second (m2): Only one half step apart, creating a dissonant and tense sound.
- Major Third (M3)
- Minor Third (m3): Slightly smaller than the major third, creating a softer, somewhat melancholic sound.
- Major Sixth (M6):
- Minor Sixth (m6)
- Major Seventh (M7)
- Minor Seventh (m7): Slightly smaller at 10 half steps, and it introduces some tension.
Augmented and Diminished Intervals:
- Augmented Fourth (A4) or Diminished Fifth (d5): These terms describe the same interval. An augmented fourth spans six half steps, while a diminished fifth covers six half steps as well.
- Augmented Fifth (A5) or Diminished Sixth (d6): Like the fourth and fifth, these two names refer to the same interval, spanning eight half steps.
- Augmented Second (A2) or Diminished Third (d3): Again, these two names refer to the same interval, covering three half steps.
- Augmented Seventh (A7) or Diminished Octave (d8): These two names represent the same interval, which spans 12 half steps.
Compound Intervals
Compound intervals are intervals larger than a perfect octave. They can be named by reducing them to an equivalent within an octave and then adding the number of octaves they extend. For example, a major ninth is equivalent to a major second plus one octave.
How To Identify Musical Intervals
To identify intervals in music, you need to know your major scales. This is because intervals are identified using major scales. The lower note is used as a tonic and the interval is found based on the note’s relationship to the tonic scale.
For example, lets take a look at this interval:
Here we can see that the lower note here is F, so F is now our key. If we count up the F major scale, (counting F as one) the D ends up being a 6th above F. Since D is in the F major scale, the interval is called a major 6th.
Lets use another example:
For this interval, the lowest note is G. Lets count up the G major scale. G A B C D…
But wait..
The G major scale has a D natural in it, not D#. What do we do?
Well, D# is a semitone higher than D (which would have been a perfect 5th up from G) so the interval would be an augmented 5th.
Always remember that augment means to increase and diminish means to decrease.
Developing Interval Recognition Using Ear Training
Recognising intervals by ear is a valuable skill for musicians. It allows you to play by ear, transcribe music, and improvise more effectively.
Here are 4 tips to help you improve your ability to recognise intervals by ear:
- Use a Reference Note: Choose a reference note as your starting point. This is the first note you hear, and all other intervals will be identified in relation to this note. You can use a piano, a tuning fork, or another musical instrument to establish this.
- Practice with an Instrument: Play the intervals on a instrument and listen to their sounds. Play the intervals, sing them, and say what they are. Make sure to pay attention to the interval’s quality, whether it’s perfect, major, minor, augmented, or diminished, and the number of half steps that make up the interval.
- Use Melodies and Songs: Listen to songs and try to identify the intervals between the notes in the melody. Some songs can serve as excellent ear training exercises because they contain distinct interval patterns. You can start with simple nursery rhymes and then progress to more complex music.
- Interval Recognition Apps and Tools: There are many ear training apps and online tools specifically designed to help you practice interval recognition. These tools often provide exercises and quizzes to test your skills and track your progress.
Conclusion
In conclusion, musical intervals are the foundation of harmony and melody, shaping the very essence of music itself. Understanding these intervals enables musicians to create, interpret, and appreciate the art form on a profound level. Each interval type adds a unique layer of colour to the musical canvas. Whether you’re a beginner seeking to unlock the concept of intervals or an experienced musician looking to refine your skills, this fundamental knowledge empowers you to communicate, innovate, and understand the language of music.
If you want to test yourself, I have included a free printable worksheet that can be downloaded here: