1.10 Harmonic and melodic intervals

When you make music, you either play a melody or you play chords. When you play a melody, you play the tones one after the other. If you play a chord, you play tones at the same time. For example, if you play a fifth in a melody, you play the notes of the fifth one after the other. When you play a chord, you play the notes of the fifth at the same time. For an interval, it does not matter whether the two tones are played at the same time or to be played one after the other, the interval remains the same.

1. Harmonic interval

An interval is called harmonic when the two tones of the interval are played at the same time. Harmony means '2 or more notes being played or sung at the same time'.

Harmonic interval: the two notes of a fifth are played at the same time.

2. Melodic interval

An interval is called melodic when the two tones of the interval are played one after the other. Melody means 'a linear succession of musical tones'.

Melodic interval: the two notes of a fifth are played one after the other.

Harmonic and melodic intervals

• Harmonic interval: the two notes of the interval are played at the same time
• Melodic interval: the two notes of the interval are played one after the other