6.9 The five types of intervals
Category: Harmony | Tags: Intervals, Ear training: intervals |
Theory
In this chapter, you'll get an overview of all the types of intervals you've learned so far. In the exercises, you are going to make them yourself. You will also learn to distinguish all intervals by ear.
1. Five types of intervals
The five types of intervals are called perfect, minor, major, diminished or augmented.
- The intervals fourth, fifth and octave are perfect.
- The intervals second, third, sixth and seventh are minor or major.
- A perfect or minor interval, lowered by a half step is called diminished.
- A perfect or major interval, raised by a half step is called augmented.
Video
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Of the diminished and augmented intervals, the augmented fourth, the diminished and augmented fifth,
and the diminished seventh are most commonly used.
2. Second
The second is minor or major. A minor second, lowered by a half step, is called a diminished second. A major second, raised by a half step, is called an augmented second.
Examples
Diminished second - minor second - major second - augmented second.
3. Third
The third is minor or major. A minor third, lowered by a half step, is called a diminished third. A major third, raised by a half step, is called an augmented third.
Examples
Diminished third - minor third - major third - augmented third.
4. Fourth
The fourth is perfect. A perfect fourth, lowered by a half step, is called a diminished fourth. A perfect fourth, raised by a half step, is called an augmented fourth.
Examples
Diminished fourth - perfect fourth - augmented fourth.
5. Fifth
The fifth is perfect. A perfect fifth, lowered by a half step, is called a diminished fifth. A perfect fifth, raised by a half step, is called an augmented fifth.
Examples
Diminished fifth - perfect fifth - augmented fifth.
6. Sixth
The sixth is minor or major. A minor sixth, lowered by a half step, is called a diminished sixth. A major sixth, raised by a half step, is called an augmented sixth.
Examples
Diminished sixth - minor sixth - major sixth - augmented sixth.
7. Seventh
The seventh is minor or major. A minor seventh, lowered by a half step, is called a diminished seventh. A major seventh, raised by a half step, is called an augmented seventh.
Examples
Diminished seventh - minor seventh - major seventh - augmented seventh.
8. Octave
The octave is perfect. A perfect octave, lowered by a half step, is called a diminished octave. A perfect octave, raised by a half step, is called an augmented octave.
Examples
Diminished octave - perfect octave - augmented octave.
9. Compound intervals
Intervals larger than an octave are called:
- ninth, interval of 9 steps
- tenth, interval of 10 steps
- eleventh, interval of 11 steps
- twelfth, interval of 12 steps
- etc.
Intervals larger than an octave are called compound intervals. Compound intervals are functionally the same as the corresponding simple intervals (those an octave or less in size). Thus, a 9th is a compound 2nd, a 10th is a compound 3rd, an 11th is a compound 4th, a 12th is a compound 5th, etc.
Examples
10. Practise
Harmony exercise 6d: practise making intervals on all notes.
Harmony exercise 6e: practise making intervals under all notes.
Get the full course11. Ear training
Practise
Ear Training exercise 6g: distinguishing the difference between all intervals up to the octave by ear.
Ear Training exercise 6h: distinguishing the difference between all intervals up to the octave by ear. The intervals are only played harmonically.
Get the full courseExample question
Which interval do you hear?
The exercise should be completed with the following abbreviations:
- mi = minor
- ma = major
- p = perfect
- a = augmented
- 2 = second
- 3 = third etc.
For example: minor second = mi2, major sixth = ma6, augmented fourth = a4, perfect fifth = p5 etc.
Practical steps
Sing the interval being played to train your inner hearing abilties. Decide which interval is being played.
Answer: mi6.
Tab
The five types of intervals
- A perfect or minor interval, lowered by a half step is called diminished
- A perfect or major interval, raised by a half step is called augmented.
- The five types of intervals are called perfect, minor, major, diminished or augmented
Overview of the intervals
The next intervals are diminished, minor, major or augmented:
- second
- third
- sixth
- seventh
The next intervals are diminished, perfect or augmented:
- fourth
- fifth
- octave
Compound intervals
Intervals larger than an octave are called:
- none, interval of 9 steps
- decime, interval of 10 steps
- undecime, interval of 11 steps
- duodecime, interval of 12 steps
- etc.
Intervals larger than an octave are called compound intervals.
Practise
Harmony exercise 6d: practise making intervals on all notes.
Harmony exercise 6e: practise making intervals under all notes.
Get the full courseEar training
Ear Training exercise 6g: distinguishing the difference between all intervals up to the octave by ear.
Ear Training exercise 6h: distinguishing the difference between all intervals up to the octave by ear. The intervals are only played harmonically.
Get the full course