Master Intervals Music Theory With Easy Guide

Intervals Music Theory : In music theory, intervals are the building blocks of melodies, harmonies, and chords. Whether you’re a beginner or advanced musician, understanding intervals is crucial to unlocking new possibilities in your musical endeavors. That’s why we’ve created this comprehensive guide to help you master intervals in music theory.

By the end of this guide, you’ll have an in-depth understanding of the different types of intervals, their names, sizes, and roles within music. You’ll also learn how to create unique chord progressions, modulate between keys, and add chromaticism to compositions.

So, let’s dive in and explore the fascinating world of intervals in music theory.

Key Takeaways:

• Intervals are crucial building blocks of music and understanding them is essential for any musician.
• By mastering intervals, you’ll have a solid foundation for composing, analyzing, and appreciating music.
• Intervals are categorized based on their names and sizes, and each interval has a unique characteristic.
• Consonant intervals sound stable and pleasing to the ear, while dissonant intervals create tension and require resolution.
• Major and minor intervals are foundational concepts in music theory and play a significant role in determining the mood, harmony, and melodic structure of a piece of music.

What Are Intervals In Music Theory?

In music theory, intervals refer to the distance between two notes. This distance is defined by both a specific interval number and the size of the interval. Intervals form the building blocks of melodies, harmonies, and chords, making them a crucial concept for all musicians to understand.

The interval number is determined by the number of letter names and accidentals between two notes. For example, the interval between C and G is a fifth, as there are five letter names (C, D, E, F, G) between the two notes.

The size of an interval is determined by the distance between the two notes in half steps. A half step is the distance between two adjacent keys on a piano. For example, the interval between C and C# is a half step, while the interval between C and D is a whole step.

It is important to note that intervals can be either ascending (moving from a lower note to a higher note) or descending (moving from a higher note to a lower note). Additionally, intervals can be specific, meaning they are given a specific name based on their interval number and size, or generic, meaning they are given a more general name based only on their interval number.

Here is a table with examples of specific intervals and their corresponding interval numbers and sizes:

Interval Name	Interval Number	Interval Size (in half steps)
unison	1	0
major second	2	2
minor third	3	3
major third	4	4
fourth	5	5
diminished fifth/tritone	6	6
perfect fifth	7	7
minor sixth	8	8
major sixth	9	9
minor seventh	10	10
major seventh	11	11
octave	12	12

Understanding Interval Names And Sizes

In music theory, intervals are classified based on their names and sizes. Understanding these classifications is crucial for composing, analyzing, and transcribing music accurately. The main types of intervals include:

• Perfect intervals: These intervals have a specific size and name and are used frequently in musical compositions. The most common perfect intervals are the unison, fourth, fifth, and octave.
• Major intervals: These intervals have a larger size than the corresponding perfect interval and are used to create bright, uplifting melodies. Examples of major intervals include major third, major sixth, and major seventh.
• Minor intervals: These intervals have a smaller size than the corresponding perfect interval and are used to create sad or melancholic melodies. Examples of minor intervals include minor third, minor sixth, and minor seventh.
• Compound intervals: These intervals occur when two notes are separated by more than an octave. They are named differently based on the number of octaves they span, such as ninth, eleventh, or thirteenth.
• Diminished intervals: These intervals are a half step smaller than the corresponding perfect or minor interval.
• Augmented intervals: These intervals are a half step larger than the corresponding perfect or major interval.

The size of an interval can be classified as a whole step or half step. A whole step is equivalent to two half steps. Understanding whole steps and half steps is crucial for determining the size of intervals. For example, a major third interval consists of two whole steps, while a minor third interval consists of one whole step and one half step.

Enharmonic intervals are another important concept to grasp. These intervals have different names but the same pitch. For example, the interval between C and B# is an enharmonic equivalent of the interval between C and C#.

In the table above, you can see the different types of intervals and their corresponding sizes in half steps. The intervals are arranged from smallest to largest, with the perfect intervals first, followed by the major intervals, and then the minor intervals.

The Importance Of Intervals In Music

As we previously mentioned, intervals play a vital role in music theory. Understanding the various types of intervals and their harmonic implications is essential to composing and analyzing music. One critical aspect of intervals is their ability to create consonance and dissonance.

Consonant intervals sound stable and pleasing to the ear, while dissonant intervals create tension and require resolution. For example, a perfect fifth interval is harmonically pleasing and is commonly found in popular music and classical music. On the other hand, the tritone, or augmented fourth interval, is considered dissonant and creates a sense of tension.

“The dissonance or harshness of a sound results from certain intervals in music. There are intervals that are very pleasing to the ear, and others that are not.” – Richard Wagner

It’s also important to understand how intervals can be inverted. An interval’s inversion is the interval that results when the lower note is transposed an octave higher, and the higher note is transposed an octave lower. Inverting an interval can change its harmonic implications. For example, a perfect fifth interval, when inverted, becomes a perfect fourth interval.

Another critical aspect of intervals is how augmented and diminished intervals add color and complexity to musical compositions. Augmented intervals involve raising the size of a perfect or major/minor interval by a half step, while diminished intervals involve lowering the size of a perfect or major/minor interval by a half step.

We can see the harmonic implications of augmented and diminished intervals in the dominant seventh chord, which contains a diminished fifth interval. The diminished fifth creates tension and requires resolution, making it an essential component of many chord progressions.

Overall, understanding the importance of intervals in music theory is crucial for any musician. Consonance and dissonance, harmonic implications, inversion, and augmented and diminished intervals, are all essential concepts to grasp to create and analyze music fully.

Major And Minor Intervals

Major and minor intervals are fundamental concepts in music theory that every musician should understand. These intervals form the basis of most melodies, harmonies, and chords that we hear in music. Major intervals have a larger size than minor intervals, and they tend to sound brighter or happier. On the other hand, minor intervals have a smaller size and evoke a more somber or melancholic mood.

The main types of major and minor intervals are the third, fifth, sixth, and seventh intervals. The third interval is the distance between a note and the third note up from it in the scale. In a major interval, the third is two whole steps above the root note, while in a minor interval, it is a whole step and a half step above the root note.

The fifth interval is the distance between a note and the fifth note up from it in the scale. In a major interval, the fifth is seven half steps above the root note, while in a minor interval, it is six half steps and a whole step above the root note.

The sixth interval is the distance between a note and the sixth note up from it in the scale. In a major interval, the sixth is nine half steps above the root note, while in a minor interval, it is eight half steps and a whole step above the root note.

The seventh interval is the distance between a note and the seventh note up from it in the scale. In a major interval, the seventh is eleven half steps above the root note, while in a minor interval, it is ten half steps and a whole step above the root note.

Learning major and minor intervals is essential for any musician, regardless of their skill level. By understanding these intervals and how they function in music, you will be able to identify them in melodies and chords, as well as compose your own music using these building blocks.

Compound Intervals And Octaves

In music theory, compound intervals occur when two notes are separated by more than an octave. These intervals are named differently based on the number of octaves they span. For example, a compound interval of a ninth is the distance from the first note to the ninth note, which is two octaves plus a whole step above the first note.

Compound intervals can be challenging to identify, especially in complex musical passages. To determine the interval, first, identify the interval between the two notes as if they were an octave apart. Then, count the additional distance above the octave, which will give you the compound interval.

For example, let’s consider the compound interval of a thirteenth. If the two notes are a C and an A, we first identify the interval between C and A, which is a sixth. We then count an additional octave plus a sixth above the A, which gives us the compound interval of a thirteenth.

It is important to understand compound intervals as they play a crucial role in analyzing and transcribing complex musical passages, as well as for composing unique melodies and harmonies. To illustrate this point, consider the famous guitar riff in Led Zeppelin’s “Stairway to Heaven.” The first two notes of the riff, an E and a D, form a compound interval of a ninth. This interval creates a distinctive sound and sets the tone for the entire song.

“Compound intervals can be challenging to identify, especially in complex musical passages.”

The Role Of Intervals In The Major Scale

The major scale is one of the most important concepts in music theory as it serves as the basis for many melodies and harmonies. Understanding intervals is crucial in constructing the major scale as each note is separated by a specific interval.

The intervals within the major scale are a combination of whole steps and half steps. A whole step is the distance between two notes that are two half steps apart. On a piano keyboard, a whole step corresponds to two keys, while a half step is the distance between two adjacent keys.

The first note of the major scale is referred to as the tonic, and the interval between the tonic and the second note is a whole step. The interval between the second and third notes is also a whole step, while the interval between the third and fourth notes is a half step.

This pattern of whole steps and half steps continues throughout the major scale, resulting in the following intervals:

Note	Interval
1	Whole step
2	Whole step
3	Half step
4	Whole step
5	Whole step
6	Whole step
7	Half step
8	Whole step

The interval between the fourth and fifth notes of the major scale is a whole step, while the interval between the fifth and sixth notes is also a whole step. The interval between the sixth and seventh notes is a half step, and the interval between the seventh and eighth notes (which is the same as the first note) is a whole step.

One of the most distinctive intervals in the major scale is the augmented fourth, also known as the tritone. This interval spans three whole steps and creates a significant amount of tension and dissonance, making it a popular choice in many musical genres.

Understanding the intervals within the major scale is essential for any musician looking to study or create music with a strong melodic structure and harmonic progression. By mastering the intervals within the major scale, you will have the foundation necessary to explore more complex musical concepts and unlock new possibilities in your compositions.

Augmented And Diminished Intervals

In music theory, an interval is said to be augmented or diminished when it is altered from its original perfect, major, or minor state by either raising or lowering its size by a half step. Augmented intervals are larger than their perfect or major counterparts, while diminished intervals are smaller than their perfect or minor counterparts.

For example, the perfect fifth interval, which is made up of seven half-steps, can be augmented by adding one half-step to make it an augmented fifth, or diminished by lowering one half-step to make it a diminished fifth. This alteration changes the character of the interval, making it more dissonant and adding tension to the harmonic structure of the music.

“Augmented and diminished intervals add unique color and complexity to musical compositions, providing an opportunity for composers and arrangers to create unexpected harmonic twists and turns.”

The table below shows the different types of augmented and diminished intervals, their sizes, and their corresponding perfect or major/minor intervals.

Interval	Size	Above Perfect or Major Interval	Below Perfect or Minor Interval
Augmented Unison	1 half-step	Perfect Unison	Minor 2nd
Diminished Second	1 half-step	Minor 2nd	Perfect Unison
Augmented Second	2 half-steps	Major Second	Diminished Third
Diminished Third	2 half-steps	Minor Third	Augmented Second
Augmented Third	3 half-steps	Major Third	Diminished Fourth
Diminished Fourth	4 half-steps	Perfect Fourth	Augmented Third
Augmented Fourth	5 half-steps	Perfect Fourth	Diminished Fifth
Diminished Fifth	6 half-steps	Perfect Fifth	Augmented Fourth
Augmented Fifth	8 half-steps	Perfect Fifth	Diminished Sixth
Diminished Sixth	8 half-steps	Minor Sixth	Augmented Fifth
Augmented Sixth	9 half-steps	Major Sixth	Diminished Seventh
Diminished Seventh	9 half-steps	Minor Seventh	Augmented Sixth
Augmented Seventh	10 half-steps	Major Seventh	Diminished Octave
Diminished Octave	11 half-steps	Perfect Octave	Augmented Seventh

Augmented and diminished intervals are commonly used in jazz, classical, and contemporary music to create unique chord progressions, modulations between keys, and to add chromaticism to compositions. In the example below from Beethoven’s “Moonlight Sonata,” the use of augmented fourth and diminished fifth intervals creates a haunting and melancholic mood.

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Conclusion

In conclusion, we hope this guide has provided you with a comprehensive understanding of intervals in music theory. By mastering the different types of intervals, their names, sizes, and roles within music, you can elevate your musicianship and unlock new possibilities in your musical endeavors.

Continuing Your Learning

There is always more to learn in the world of music theory and intervals. As you continue your learning journey, we encourage you to explore more complex concepts such as chord progressions, modulation, and advanced harmonic analysis. Additionally, don’t forget to actively apply your newfound knowledge by analyzing and transcribing your favorite musical compositions.

Final Thoughts

Music is a never-ending journey of exploration and expression, and understanding intervals is a crucial part of that journey. Whether you are a beginner or an advanced musician, the knowledge of intervals in music theory is an indispensable tool in your musical toolbox. So go forth, explore, and create with the power of intervals on your side!

Source Links

• https://hellomusictheory.com/learn/intervals/
• https://study.com/learn/lesson/intervals-music-overview-use.html
• https://aditsguitarlessons.com/music-theory/a-beginners-guide-to-knowing-intervals
• https://www.britannica.com/art/interval-music