Musical intervals are the building blocks of music theory. They define the pitch difference between two notes and are foundational in understanding scales, chords, and melodies.
What is an Interval?
An interval is the distance between two pitches. In Western music, intervals are named based on the number of letter names (C to D is a second, D to F is a third, etc.) and the quality (major, minor, perfect, augmented, or diminished).
Types of Intervals
- Perfect intervals: These include unisons, fourths, fifths, and octaves. They are called "perfect" as they tend to sound stable.
- Major and Minor intervals: Seconds, thirds, sixths, and sevenths can be major or minor. The difference between these is the number of semitones.
- Augmented and Diminished intervals: These intervals are altered forms, increasing (augmented) or decreasing (diminished) the original interval size by one semitone.
Interactive Learning
We invite you to explore our Musical Scales section to deepen your understanding of intervals within different scales! 🎸