Naming intervals
An interval is the distance between two notes. Its name has two parts: a number and a quality.
Step 1: the number
Count letter names from the lower note to the higher one, including both. C up to E is C, D, E, so it is a 3rd. Ignore sharps and flats when counting.
Step 2: the quality
Imagine the major scale of the lower note. If the upper note is in that scale, the interval is major (for 2nds, 3rds, 6ths and 7ths) or perfect (for 1sts, 4ths, 5ths and octaves). If the upper note is a semitone lower than a major interval, it is minor. A perfect or minor interval made a semitone smaller is diminished. One made a semitone larger than major or perfect is augmented.
Semitones in each interval
| Interval | Semitones | Example above C |
|---|---|---|
| Minor 2nd | 1 | D♭ |
| Major 2nd | 2 | D |
| Minor 3rd | 3 | E♭ |
| Major 3rd | 4 | E |
| Perfect 4th | 5 | F |
| Augmented 4th / diminished 5th | 6 | F♯ / G♭ |
| Perfect 5th | 7 | G |
| Minor 6th | 8 | A♭ |
| Major 6th | 9 | A |
| Minor 7th | 10 | B♭ |
| Major 7th | 11 | B |
| Perfect octave | 12 | C |
Practise it
Mustud can generate intervals to name (by number, or by number and quality), or ask students to write the second note for a given interval. Notes can sit side by side or stacked, in any clef. See interval worksheets.
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