Intervals are the building blocks of music, defining the distance between two pitches and shaping the harmony and melody of a piece. Interval types include perfect, major, minor, augmented, and diminished, each bringing a unique sound and emotional quality to music. Understanding these types is essential for grasping how music works across all genres.
- Perfect intervals: unison, 4th, 5th, octave; very stable and consonant
- Major intervals: 2nd, 3rd, 6th, 7th in their "natural" form; sound bright
- Minor intervals: major intervals lowered by a half step; sound darker
- Augmented intervals: one half step larger than major or perfect; sound tense
- Diminished intervals: one half step smaller than minor or perfect; sound very tense
Perfect Intervals
Perfect intervals include unison, 4th, 5th, and octave. They are highly stable and consonant, meaning they sound very harmonious and are less likely to create musical tension. These intervals are often used in foundational harmonic structures like power chords.
- Include unison, 4th, 5th, and octave
- Extremely stable and consonant
- Used in foundational harmony (e.g., power chords)
| Interval | Semitones | Example (from C) | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unison | 0 | C - C | Same pitch |
| Perfect 4th | 5 | C - F | Very stable |
| Perfect 5th | 7 | C - G | Highly consonant |
| Octave | 12 | C - C | Same note, higher pitch |
Major and Minor Intervals
Major and minor intervals apply to seconds, thirds, sixths, and sevenths. Major intervals sound bright and stable, while minor intervals (major intervals lowered by one semitone) sound darker or more somber.
- Major: 2nd, 3rd, 6th, 7th in their natural form (e.g., C to D for major 2nd)
- Minor: Major intervals lowered by one semitone (e.g., C to D♭ for minor 2nd)
- Major = bright/stable; Minor = darker/emotional
| Interval Type | Major (from C) | Minor (from C) | Semitones Major | Semitones Minor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2nd | D | D♭ | 2 | 1 |
| 3rd | E | E♭ | 4 | 3 |
| 6th | A | A♭ | 9 | 8 |
| 7th | B | B♭ | 11 | 10 |
Augmented and Diminished Intervals
Augmented and diminished intervals create tension and are often used to add drama or to transition harmonically (chromaticism).
- Augmented: Major or perfect intervals raised by one semitone (e.g., C to G♯ for augmented 5th)
- Diminished: Minor or perfect intervals lowered by one semitone (e.g., C to G♭ for diminished 5th)
| Interval | Description | Example from C | Semitones |
|---|---|---|---|
| Augmented | Perfect/Major +1 | C to F♯ (4th) | 6 |
| C to G♯ (5th) | 8 | ||
| Diminished | Perfect/Minor -1 | C to G♭ (5th) | 6 |
| C to E♭ (3rd) | 2 |
Conclusion
Interval types define the relationships between notes, shaping the emotional and structural core of music theory.
- Perfect intervals are stable and include unison, 4th, 5th, and octave.
- Major and minor intervals apply to 2nds, 3rds, 6ths, and 7ths, with major sounding bright and minor sounding darker.
- Augmented and diminished intervals introduce tension, altering the traditional interval by a half step.