Intervals, Part Two |
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In part one; we learned to name intervals by their scale degree. Now, we will learn to describe intervals more precisely by measuring them in half-steps.
These new intervals will have a static distance, allowing us to apply them any key or scale. To do this; we will have to name differently with these: major, minor, perfect, augmented, and diminished. To know which one to use, you have to know the number of half-steps in the interval.
These new intervals will have a static distance, allowing us to apply them any key or scale. To do this; we will have to name differently with these: major, minor, perfect, augmented, and diminished. To know which one to use, you have to know the number of half-steps in the interval.
Unisons, 4ths, 5ths and octaves
- Unisons
Diminished intervals are smaller by a half-step than perfect ones. Diminished unisons are 0 - 1 = -1 half-step long, like C to Cb or D to Db.
Augmented intervals are the opposite of diminished intervals; they are one half-step bigger than perfect intervals. Augmented unisons are 0 + 1 = 1 half-step long, like C to C# or D to D#.
Now you know your first three modifiers: perfect, augmented and diminished. They can be applied to unisons, we just learned how, but also to 4ths, 5ths and octaves
- Fifths
C to G
A diminished fifth is 7 – 1 = 6 half-steps long.
C to Gb
An augmented fifth is 7 + 1 = 8 half-steps long.
C to G#
- Octaves
C to C, this time, unlike unisons, it is not the same note; the second C has a higher pitch than the first C (see this course if you do not understand).
Diminished octaves are 12 – 1 = 11 half steps long.
C to Cb
Augmented octaves are 12 + 1 = 13 half-steps long.
C to C#
2nds, 3rds, 6ths and 7ths
In this group, there are only two modifiers: major and minor.
C to D
Minor seconds are 2 – 1 = 1 half-step long.
C to Db
C to E
Minor thirds are 4 – 1 = 3 half-steps long.
C to Eb
D to F
C to G
Minor sixths are 9 – 1 = 8 half-steps long.
C to Gb
C to A
Minor sevenths are 11 – 1 = 10 half-steps long.
C to Ab
- Seconds
C to D
Minor seconds are 2 – 1 = 1 half-step long.
C to Db
- Thirds
C to E
Minor thirds are 4 – 1 = 3 half-steps long.
C to Eb
D to F
- Sixths
C to G
Minor sixths are 9 – 1 = 8 half-steps long.
C to Gb
- Sevenths
C to A
Minor sevenths are 11 – 1 = 10 half-steps long.
C to Ab
Modified Intervals
Now the trickiest part: Major and minor intervals, 2nds, 3rds, 6ths and 7ths, can be augmented and diminished just like the unisons, 4ths and 5ths and octaves intervals. Don’t be afraid, if you know how many half-steps there are in the major and minor intervals, to transform them into diminished or augmented intervals, you will only have to decrease or increase them by a half-step.
- Seconds
B to Cb
A to Bbb
You can add as many flats or sharps you need to a note, this time we needed two flats to have a minor second because we couldn’t use Ab, otherwise our interval would have been a diminished unison instead of second minor.
An augmented second is a major second increased by a half-step; they are 2 + 1 = 3 half-steps long.
F to G#
A to B#
An augmented second is a major second increased by a half-step; they are 2 + 1 = 3 half-steps long.
F to G#
A to B#
- Thirds
D# to Bb
F to Ab
An augmented third is a major third increased by a half-step, 4 + 1 = 5 half-step long.
G to B#
F to A#
- Sixths
E to Cb
F to Dbb
Augmented sixths are major sixths increased by a half-step, 9 + 1 = 10 half-steps long.
Ab to F#
Eb to C#
Ab to F#
Eb to C#
- Sevenths
A to Gb
G to Fb
Augmented sevenths are major sevenths increased by a half-step, 11 + 1 = 12 half-steps long.
C to B#
Gb to F#
C to B#
Gb to F#
Chart from piano-hacker.com
We are finally done with this, it can seem unbearably complex, but keep practicing and remember that you are only calculating distances between notes and naming them. Go slowly and write them, it will get better soon.
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