Perfect And Major Piano Intervals

Intervals

An INTERVAL in music is the distance in pitch between two notes. The interval is counted from the lower note to the higher one, with the lower counted as 1.

Intervals are named by the number of the upper note (2nds, 3rds, etc.) with two exceptions: The interval between notes that are identical is called UNISON) also called a PRIME INTERVAL); the interval of an 8th is called an OCTAVE. The intervals below are all shown with C as the lower note:

Melodic and Harmonic Intervals

Intervals are called MELODIC INTERVALS when they are sounded separately and HARMONIC INTERVALS when they are sounded together. Because we are studying chords, we will be dealing with HARMONIC INTERVALS. When melodies are played, this involves the study of MELODIC INTERVALS.

Mary had a little lamb = E – D – C – D – E – E – E (Melodic Intervals)

C major Chord = C + E + G (played together, Harmonic Interval)

Side Note: As you will learn later, 3rd and 5th intervals make up the major chord. A lowered 3rd interval (minor interval) and 5th interval make up the minor chord.

Perfect And Major Intervals

The interval between the keynote of a major scale and the unison, 4th, 5th, or octave of that scale is called a PERFECT INTERVAL.

For example, the difference from C to G (in a C major scale) is called a Perfect 5th. The difference from C to F is called a Perfect 4th. The 8th note of the scale is referred to as the Perfect Octave. The difference between the same note is called the Perfect Unison.

The interval between the keynote of a major scale and the 2nd, 3rd, 6th or 7th of that scale is called a MAJOR INTERVAL.

For example, the difference from C to D (in a C major scale) is called a Major 2nd. The difference from C to E is called a Major 3rd. The difference from C to A is called a Major 6th and the difference from C to B is called a Major 7th.

This lesson is not even half of what the Hear and Play course covers on intervals! To see how you can learn intervals with tons of written and interactive exercises, along with 19 other lessons, please visit the link below:

http://www.hearandplay.com/go/?p=a479147&w=300pg

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