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Music intervals

An interval is the distance between two notes, named by the letters it spans and the half steps in it. C up to E is a major third: three letters, four half steps. C up to G is a perfect fifth, seven half steps: play it here from any note, or open another below.

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Interval chart

Every interval within an octave. Each opens its own page, with the interval above every note and the songs that start with it.

Every interval from a minor second to an octave: short name, half steps, the notes from C and a song that starts with it
IntervalHalf stepsFrom C
Minor second1C to D♭
Major second2C to D
Minor third3C to E♭
Major third4C to E
Perfect fourth5C to F
Tritone6C to F♯
Perfect fifth7C to G
Minor sixth8C to A♭
Major sixth9C to A
Minor seventh10C to B♭
Major seventh11C to B
Octave12C to C

How to name an interval

Count the letters

Count both notes and every letter between: C to E is C D E, three letters, so a third. C to G is a fifth.

Count the half steps

Count the keys from the lower note to the upper, black and white: C to E is four half steps.

Name its quality

Four half steps in a third is major, three is minor. Fourths, fifths and octaves are perfect: five, seven and twelve half steps.

Hear it

Open an interval below and play it, up and then together, from any note.

Turning an interval over

Move the lower note up an octave and the interval inverts: the numbers add to nine and the half steps to twelve. A major third (4 half steps) becomes a minor sixth (8), a perfect fifth (7) a perfect fourth (5), and the tritone (6) stays a tritone. Major turns to minor and minor to major; perfect stays perfect.

Chords are intervals stacked up: every chord’s notes are on piano chords.

Questions about intervals

What is an interval in music?

The distance between two notes, counted in letters and half steps. C up to E is a major third: three letters, four half steps.

What are the intervals in music?

Within an octave: minor and major seconds, minor and major thirds, the perfect fourth, the tritone, the perfect fifth, minor and major sixths, minor and major sevenths and the octave, from 1 to 12 half steps.

What is the difference between a major and a minor interval?

A minor interval is a half step smaller than the major one with the same number: a minor third is three half steps, a major third four. Seconds, thirds, sixths and sevenths come in both.

What makes an interval perfect?

Unisons, fourths, fifths and octaves are perfect: they have one natural size, with no major or minor form. A half step larger makes them augmented, a half step smaller diminished.

What is an inverted interval?

The same two notes with the lower one moved up an octave. The numbers add to nine and the half steps to twelve: a major third (4) inverts to a minor sixth (8), and major turns to minor, perfect stays perfect.

How do you learn to hear intervals?

Tie each to a tune you know: a perfect fifth is "Twinkle, Twinkle", a perfect fourth "Here Comes the Bride", a major third "When the Saints Go Marching In". Then play two notes and name the gap before you look.

Put intervals in a song

Open the free editor with a beat playing, then draw a melody note by note in the piano roll and hear every leap. No account needed to start.

Start a beatScales

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