2. Home
  3. Music theory level 5
  4. Ch.5.7 Inversion of intervals

5.7 Inversion of intervals

 

Category: Harmony | Tags: Intervals, Ear training: intervals

Theory

In this chapter, you will learn how to invert intervals by playing the lowest note one octave higher. You are going to invert intervals yourself in the exercise. You will also learn to distinguish major and minor seconds and thirds, and perfect fourths and fifths by ear.

1. Minor second - major seventh

The lowest tone of the minor second E F is played one octave higher.
We then get the notes F E; this interval is a major seventh.

 

Examples

note example

piano example

2. Major second - minor seventh

The lowest tone of the major second C D is played one octave higher.
We then get the notes D C; this interval is a minor seventh.

 

Examples

note example

piano example

3. Minor third - major sixth

The lowest tone of the minor third D F is played one octave higher.
We then get the notes F D; this interval is a major sixth.

 

Examples

note example

piano example

4. Major third - minor sixth

The lowest tone of the major third C E is played one octave higher.
We then get the notes E C; this interval is a minor sixth.

 

Examples

note example

piano example

5. Perfect fourth - perfect fifth

The lowest tone of the perfect fourth C F is played one octave higher.
We then get the notes F C; this interval is a perfect fifth.

 

Examples

note example

piano example

6. Perfect fifth - perfect fourth

The lowest tone of the perfect fifth C G is played one octave higher.
We then get the notes G C; this interval is a perfect fourth.

 

Examples

note example

piano example

7. Minor sixth - major third

The lowest tone of the minor sixth E C is played one octave higher.
We then get the notes C E; this interval is a major third.

 

Examples

note example

piano example

8. Major sixth - minor third

The lowest tone of the major sixth C A is played one octave higher.
We then get the notes A C; this interval is a minor third.

 

Examples

note example

piano example

9. Minor seventh - major second

The lowest tone of the minor seventh D C is played one octave higher.
We then get the notes C D; this interval is a major second.

 

Examples

note example

piano example

10. Major seventh - minor second

The lowest tone of the major seventh C B is played one octave higher.
We then get the notes B C; this interval is a minor second.

 

Examples

note example

piano example

11. Highest tone one octave lower

When an interval is inverted by playing the highest tone one octave lower, instead of the lowest tone one octave higher, the inversions are the same; only played in different octaves, one higher, the other lower.

 

Examples

note example

piano example

12. Interval pairs

An interval and it's inversion belong together and are called an interval pair.
There are three interval pairs:

  • second-seventh
  • third-sixth
  • fourth-fifth

13. Practise

Harmony exercise 5a: practise making inversions of intervals.

Get the full course

14. Ear training

 

Practise

Ear Training exercise 5f: practise distinguishing the difference between a major and minor second and third, perfect fourth and fifth by ear.

Ear Training exercise 5g: practise distinguishing the difference between a major and minor second and third, perfect fourth and fifth by ear. The intervals are only played harmonically.

Get the full course

Example question

Which interval do you hear?

Choise 1: minor second

Choise 2: major second

Choise 3: minor third

Choise 4: major third

Choise 5: perfect fourth

Choise 6: perfect fifth

 

Practical steps

Sing the interval being played to train your inner hearing abilties. Decide which interval is being played.

Answer: major third.