Perfect fifth
A perfect fifth is 7 half steps: from C up to G. Open, hollow and strong, the most stable interval after the octave: the sound of a power chord.
The perfect fifth at a glance
| Perfect fifth | |
|---|---|
| Half steps | 7 (three and a half whole steps) |
| Letters it spans | 5: C D E F G |
| Short name | P5 |
| Inverts to | Perfect fourth |
| Frequency ratio | 1.498 on a piano, 3:2 in just intonation |
Every note’s frequency in hertz is on the note frequency chart.
Songs that start with a perfect fifth
Going up: "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" ("Twin-kle, twin-kle") and the "Star Wars" main theme, between its first two long notes.
Going down: "The Flintstones" theme ("Flint-stones").
Sing the tune’s first notes in your head and you have the interval from any starting note.
The perfect fifth in chords
From the root to the fifth of every major and minor chord (C to G in C major), and the whole of a power chord, C5.
Every chord’s notes, to hear on a keyboard, are on piano chords.
A perfect fifth from every note
| From | Up a perfect fifth |
|---|---|
| C | G |
| C♯ | G♯ |
| D | A |
| E♭ | B♭ |
| E | B |
| F | C |
| F♯ | C♯ |
| G | D |
| A♭ | E♭ |
| A | E |
| B♭ | F |
| B | F♯ |
Questions about the perfect fifth
What is a perfect fifth in music?
A perfect fifth is 7 half steps: from C up to G. Open, hollow and strong, the most stable interval after the octave: the sound of a power chord.
How many half steps is a perfect fifth?
Seven, such as C to G or D to A.
What is the circle of fifths?
The twelve keys set a perfect fifth apart: C, G, D, A and on round to C again. Keys next to each other share all but one note.
What songs start with a perfect fifth?
"Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" ("Twin-kle, twin-kle") and the "Star Wars" main theme, between its first two long notes. Going down: "The Flintstones" theme ("Flint-stones").
What is the inversion of a perfect fifth?
A perfect fourth. Move the lower note up an octave and a perfect fifth becomes a perfect fourth: their half steps add up to twelve.
Other intervals
All of them side by side, with how to name one, are on the interval chart.
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.
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