What are Intervals?

Question: What are Intervals?

Answer: An interval is the difference between two pitches measured by half steps. It is also
defined as the distance of one note to another note. In Western music, the smallest interval
used is the half step. Learning about intervals makes it easier to play scales and chords.
Intervals have two characteristics: the type or quality of an interval (ex. major, perfect, etc.)
and the size or distance of an interval (ex. second, third, etc.). To determine an interval, you
first look at the type of interval followed by the size (ex. Maj7, Perfect 4th, Maj6, etc.). Intervals
can be major, minor,harmonic, melodic, perfect, augmented and diminished.

Sizes or Distance of Intervals (Using the C Major Scale as example)

When determining the interval between two notes, you need to count every line and space
starting from the bottom note going to the top note. Remember to count the bottom note as
#1.

• Prime/First - c to c
• Second - c to d
• Third - c to e
• Fourth - c to f
• Fifth - c to g
• Sixth - c to a
• Seventh - c to b
• Octave - c to c

Types or Qualities of Intervals

• Perfect Intervals have only one basic form. The first (or prime), fourth, fifth and
eighth (or octave) are all perfect intervals. When you lower a perfect interval by a half step
it becomes diminished. When you raise it a half step it becomes augmented.
• Non-perfect Intervals have two basic forms. The second, third, sixth and seventh are
non-perfect intervals; it can either be a major or minor interval (ex. Maj7, minor6, etc.).
When you lower a major interval by a half step, it becomes a minor. When you raise it a
half step it becomes augmented. On the other hand when you lower a minor interval by a
half step it becomes diminished. When you raise it a half step it becomes a major.

Question: What Are Harmonic Intervals?

Answer: Notes that are played together or simultaneously create harmony. The interval
between these notes are called harmonic intervals. Just like melodic intervals, there are
harmonic 2nds, 3rds, 4ths, 5ths, 6ths, etc. The difference is that in melodic intervals the notes
are played one after another, while in harmonic intervals you play the notes at the same time.
Notes on a chord that are played together have harmonic intervals. The most common type of
chords are major and minor chords. The triad is a type of major or minor chord that has 3
notes played either at the same time or one after another. A major triad is played using the 1st
(root) + 3rd + 5th notes of a major scale. A minor triad is played using the 1st (root) + 3rd +
5th notes of a minor scale.
Related Music Theory Articles

Question: What are Intervals?

Answer: An interval is the difference between two pitches measured by half steps. It is also
defined as the distance of one note to another note. In Western music, the smallest interval
used is the half step. Learning about intervals makes it easier to play scales and chords.
Intervals have two characteristics: the type or quality of an interval (ex. major, perfect, etc.)
and the size or distance of an interval (ex. second, third, etc.). To determine an interval, you
first look at the type of interval followed by the size (ex. Maj7, Perfect 4th, Maj6, etc.). Intervals
can be major, minor,harmonic, melodic, perfect, augmented and diminished.

Sizes or Distance of Intervals (Using the C Major Scale as example)

When determining the interval between two notes, you need to count every line and space
starting from the bottom note going to the top note. Remember to count the bottom note as
#1.

• Prime/First - c to c
• Second - c to d
• Third - c to e
• Fourth - c to f
• Fifth - c to g
• Sixth - c to a
• Seventh - c to b
• Octave - c to c

Types or Qualities of Intervals

• Perfect Intervals have only one basic form. The first (or prime), fourth, fifth and
eighth (or octave) are all perfect intervals. When you lower a perfect interval by a half step
it becomes diminished. When you raise it a half step it becomes augmented.
• Non-perfect Intervals have two basic forms. The second, third, sixth and seventh are
non-perfect intervals; it can either be a major or minor interval (ex. Maj7, minor6, etc.).
When you lower a major interval by a half step, it becomes a minor. When you raise it a
half step it becomes augmented. On the other hand when you lower a minor interval by a
half step it becomes diminished. When you raise it a half step it becomes a major.

What Are Diminished and Augmented Triads?

Question: What Are Diminished and Augmented Triads?
Answer: There are two more types of triads called diminished and augmented chords.
Diminished Chord - Uses the symbol "o" or "dim" and is formed by playing the first note
(root) + flatted third (b3) + flatted fifth (b5) of a major scale. When you add another
minor third (b3) to a diminished chord it becomes a tetrad or a four-note chord. The symbol
used for this is "o7." Two commonly used types of tetrad are the dominant 7th (7) and
themajor 7th (maj7) chords.

Here are the diminished chords in different keys:

C dim = C - Eb - Gb
G dim = G - Bb - Db
D dim = D - F - Ab
A dim = A - C - Eb
E dim = E - G - Bb
B dim = B - D - F
F# dim = F# - A - C
Gb dim = Gb - A - C
Db dim = Db - E - G
C# dim = C# - E - G
Ab dim = Ab - B - D
Eb dim = Eb - Gb - A
Bb dim = Bb - Db - E
F dim = F - Ab - B

Augmented Chord - Uses the symbol "+" or "aug." and is formed by playing the first note
(root) + third note + sharped fifth (#5th) of a major scale.

Here are the augmented chords in different keys:

C aug = C - E - G#
G aug = G - B - D#
D aug = D - F# - A#
A aug = A - C# - F
E aug = E - G# - C
B aug = B - D# - G
F# aug = F# - A# - D
Gb aug = Gb - Bb - D
Db aug = Db - F - A
C# aug = C# - E# (or F) - A
Ab aug = Ab - C - E
Eb aug = Eb - G - B
Bb aug = Bb - D - F#
F aug = F - A - C#

Question: What Are Diminished and Augmented Triads?

Answer: There are two more types of triads called diminished and augmented chords.
Diminished Chord - Uses the symbol "o" or "dim" and is formed by playing the first note
(root) + flatted third (b3) + flatted fifth (b5) of a major scale. When you add another
minor third (b3) to a diminished chord it becomes a tetrad or a four-note chord. The symbol
used for this is "o7." Two commonly used types of tetrad are the dominant 7th (7) and
themajor 7th (maj7) chords.

Here are the diminished chords in different keys:

C dim = C - Eb - Gb
G dim = G - Bb - Db
D dim = D - F - Ab
A dim = A - C - Eb
E dim = E - G - Bb
B dim = B - D - F
F# dim = F# - A - C
Gb dim = Gb - A - C
Db dim = Db - E - G
C# dim = C# - E - G
Ab dim = Ab - B - D
Eb dim = Eb - Gb - A
Bb dim = Bb - Db - E
F dim = F - Ab - B
Augmented Chord - Uses the symbol "+" or "aug." and is formed by playing the first note
(root) + third note + sharped fifth (#5th) of a major scale.

Here are the augmented chords in different keys:

C aug = C - E - G#
G aug = G - B - D#
D aug = D - F# - A#
A aug = A - C# - F
E aug = E - G# - C
B aug = B - D# - G
F# aug = F# - A# - D
Gb aug = Gb - Bb - D
Db aug = Db - F - A
C# aug = C# - E# (or F) - A
Ab aug = Ab - C - E
Eb aug = Eb - G - B
Bb aug = Bb - D - F#
F aug = F - A - C#

Related Music Theor

What are dominant 7th's and is it the same as

a major 7th chord?
Question: What are dominant 7th's and is it the same as a major 7th
chord?
Learning chords may seem tricky and confusing, especially for
beginners. Don't despair, once you understand how these chords are
related and their respective patterns, you'll see that chords aren't so
hard to learn after all.
Answer: A dominant 7th uses the symbol of a note name + 7. For
example: C7, D7, E7, etc. It is different from the symbol used for
a major 7th which is maj7. A dominant 7th is not the same as a major
7th chord. But, to form a dominant 7th you must know how to form a
major 7th chord first because these two types of chords are related.
A major 7th chord is formed by playing the root (1st) + 3rd + 5th
+ 7th notes of a major scale. Adominant 7th is formed by
simply lowering the 7th note a half step.

As an example, Cmaj7 = C - E - G - B (7th note). Lower the 7th note a half step, from B to Bb,
thus Dominant 7th = C - E - G - Bb.

Here are the dominant 7th chords in every key:

C7 = C - E - G - Bb
D7 = D - F# - A - C
E7 = E - G# - B - D
F7 = F - A - C - Eb
G7 = G - B - D - F
A7 = A - C# - E - G
B7 = B - D# - F# - A
C#7 = C# - E# (F) - G# - B
Db7 = Db - F - Ab - B
Eb7 = Eb - G - Bb - Db
F#7 = F# - A# - C# - E
Gb7 = Gb - Bb - Db - E
Ab7 = Ab - C - Eb - Gb
Bb7 = Bb - D - F – Ab

What are major and minor 7ths and how are

they formed?

Question: What are major and minor 7ths and how are they formed?
You usually see these symbols on music sheets but may not know what it means. The symbol
used to signify a major 7th is maj7 while min7 stands for minor 7th. Here is an explanation of
what is the difference between these two types of chords and how they are formed.
Answer: The major 7th chord is formed by playing the root (1st) + 3rd + 5th + 7th
notes of a major scale. It is important to learn how to form the major scales and assign the
numbers 1 to 7 (with 1 assigned to the root note) in order to learn how to play a major 7th
chord easily. Here are the major 7th chords in every key:

Cmaj7 = C - E - G - B
Dmaj7 = D - F# - A - C#
Emaj7 = E - G# - B - D#
Fmaj7 = F - A - C - E
Gmaj7 = G - B - D - F#
Amaj7 = A - C# - E - G#
Bmaj7 = B - D# - F# - A#
C#maj7 = C# - E# (F) - G# - B# (C)
Dbmaj7 = Db - F - Ab - C
Ebmaj7 = Eb - G - Bb - D
F#maj7 = F# - A# - C# - E# (F)
Gbmaj7 = Gb - Bb - Db - F
Abmaj7 = Ab - C - Eb - G
Bbmaj7 = Bb - D - F - A
A minor 7th chord is formed based on the major 7th chord, by lowering the 3rd and 7th
note a half step (also means to flatten the 3rd and 7th). Here are the minor 7th chords in
every key:

Cm7 = C - Eb - G - Bb
Dm7 = D - F - A - C
Em7 = E - G - B - D
Fm7 = F - Ab - C - Eb
Gm7 = G - Bb - D - F
Am7 = A - C - E - G
Bm7 = B - D - F# - A
C#m7 = C# - E - G# - B
Dbm7 = Db - E - Ab - B
Ebm7 = Eb - Gb - Bb - Db
F#m7 = F# - A - C# - E
Gbm7 = Gb - A - Db - E
Abm7 = Ab - B - Eb - Gb
Bbm7 = Bb - Db - F - Ab