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Understanding Intervals

Joe Hubbard intervals

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322 views

Understanding Intervals

Joe Hubbard intervals

Uploaded by

iainhodges
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Understanding Intervals

Any study of harmony must begin with intervals. Intervals are the musical unit of measurement
between two notes. In the same way that we have inches, feet and yards to determine the exact
distance from one point to another, intervals define the exact distance from one note to another.
The Diatonic Intervals
Diatonic means notes that belong to a scale or stay within the restrictions of a specific scale such as
the major scale.
If we write out the C major scale in two octaves we will have:

By measuring the distance from C to every scale degree, we would come up with the following
intervals:

Notice that thirds, fifths and sevenths are called the same thing in any octave (more on this later).
The Chromatic Intervals
The next area of classification involves chromatic notes. Notice that all of the previous intervals
the perfect and major relate directly to the diatonic notes of the major scale.
Any interval we name could contain notes written many ways enharmonically. The specific way a
note is written is critical when figuring the name of the corresponding interval.

Understanding Intervals

Copyright Joe Hubbard Bass 2011 All Rights Reserved

Chromatic intervals are determined by raising or lowering the diatonic notes of a major scale by a
half-step, which is the distance of one fret on the bass guitar. Heres an example:
Look at the diatonic interval chart and notice the major second interval. Because weve
established that C going up to D is a major second, this means that if we have C going up to
any kind of a D (sharp or flat), it will become some kind of a 2nd interval. The only difference
is that we will use a different adjective to describe what kind of second it will be.
The following diagram will outline a visual overview of how the diatonic scale degrees of a major
scale can be raised or lowered and which adjective is used in each instance:

Although many possibilities exist (for example: the interval of C up to Eb is a minor 3rd, while C up to
D# is an augmented 2nd) the most common way of relating to the twelve possible chromatic tones is
like this:

Understanding Intervals

Copyright Joe Hubbard Bass 2011 All Rights Reserved

Interval Construction in Half-Steps


Number of Half-Steps
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12

Interval Name
Perfect Unison
Minor Second
Major Second
Minor Third
Major Third
Perfect Fourth
Augmented Fourth or Diminished Fifth
Perfect Fifth
Augmented Fifth or Minor Sixth
Major 6th or Diminished Seventh
Minor Seventh
Major Seventh
Perfect Octave

To construct intervals using half steps, visualise your fretboard and start by counting the first note as
zero (0). From there count in half steps until you reach the correct number for the interval that you
want. For example, to find a minor 6th interval above D, count D as zero (0), Eb as 1, E as 2, F as 3, F#
as 4, G as 5, Ab as 6, A as 7 and Bb as 8. Check with the half step chart above and you will discover
that there are 8 half steps in a minor 6th interval. You will also notice that the augmented 5th has 8
half steps. The procedure to check for the correct letter name is by relating to the diatonic notes of
the major scale. Because D to B is a major 6th, D to Bb will become a minor 6th. Similarly, D to A is a
perfect 5th, which indicates that D to A# will become an augmented fifth. The way in which we count
scale degrees is different to the way that we count half steps. When counting half steps the starting
note is referred to as zero (0), whereas when counting scale degrees the starting note is counted as
one (1).
Inverting Intervals
When you invert an interval:
Major becomes Minor
Minor becomes Major
Augmented becomes Diminished
Diminished becomes Augmented
Perfect remains Perfect

2nds become 7ths


7ths become 2nds
3rds become 6ths
6ths become 3rds
4ths become 5ths
5ths become 4ths

Understanding Intervals

Copyright Joe Hubbard Bass 2011 All Rights Reserved

Understanding Intervals

Copyright Joe Hubbard Bass 2011 All Rights Reserved

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