Intervals
• An interval is the distance between two notes.
Intervals have two elements:
Quantity: The letter to letter distance.
• Unisons (1sts)
• 2nds
• 3rds
• 4ths
• 5ths
• 6ths
• 7ths
• Octaves (8ths)
Quality: The overall distance in half steps,
in combination with the Quantity.
• Major
• Minor
• Augmented
• Diminished
• Perfect
• 2nds, 3rds, 6ths, and 7ths cannot be perfect.
• Unisons and Octaves should only be perfect.
• 4ths and 5ths cannot be major or minor.
| Interval | Notes | Half-steps | Quality | Quantity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unison | C : C | 0 | Perfect | 1st |
| mi 2 | C : D |
1 | Minor | 2nd |
| M 2 | C : D | 2 | Major | 2nd |
| mi 3 | C : E |
3 | Minor | 3rd |
| M 3 | C : E | 4 | Major | 3rd |
| P 4 | C : F | 5 | Perfect | 4th |
| TriTone | C : G |
6 | Aug/Dim | 4th/5th |
| P 5 | C : G | 7 | Perfect | 5th |
| mi 6 | C : A |
8 | Minor | 6th |
| M 6 | C : A | 9 | Major | 6th |
| mi 7 | C : B |
10 | Minor | 7th |
| M 7 | C : B | 11 | Major | 7th |
| Octave | C : C | 12 | Perfect | 8th |