Intervals Week 1.7

Vocabulary

Interval: Musical Space Between two notes Named according to size and quality To count the size: Count the bottom note as 1, then count forward in the alphabet to next pitch Example: D-A is a fifth The size between two notes stays the same, regardless of the accidental in front of them Ex: Any kind of C to any kind of A is a 6th **unison: the interval that occurs when two notes are on the exact same pitch and there is no space between them Melodic Intervals: Occur when notes sound one right after the other (like in a melody) Harmonic Intervals: Occur when notes sound at the same time (creating harmonies) **Melodic and Harmonic intervals are counted the same way

Thirds: Line to next line OR space to next space Fifths: line, skip line, next line OR space, skip space, next space Sevenths: line, skip two lines, next line OR space, skip two spaces, next space Seconds, fourths, sixths, octaves: one pitch on a line and one pitch on a space

Compound Intervals Compound Interval: Interval larger than an octave Ex: m63, A4-B5=ninth Simple Interval: interval up to an octave To count compound interval, add 7 to the interval size: EX: m 63, A-B is a 2nd, plus 7 is a 9th

Interval Quality The number distance between two notes gives the size, but all intervals also have a quality (major, minor, perfect, augmented, or diminished) Quality is determined by the number of half steps between the two notes: Minor Second (m2): One half step Major Second (M2): two half steps Minor Third (m3): three half steps Major Third (M3): four half steps Perfect Fourth (P4): five half steps Augmented Fourth/Diminished Fifth (A4/D5): six half steps Perfect Fifth (P5): seven half steps Minor Sixth (m6): eight half steps Major Sixth (M6): nine half steps Minor Seventh (m7): ten half steps Major Seventh (M7): eleven half steps Perfect Octave (P8): twelve half steps

To determine the quality, follow the INTERVAL FLOW CHART!!! 

Inverting Intervals Two intervals that are made up of the same pitches but in reverse order are inversely related. Knowing the inversions of an interval can help in identifying and spelling. When inverting: Perfect intervals remain perfect Major intervals invert to minor intervals (and vice versa) Augmented intervals invert to diminished intervals (and vice versa) The two inversion sizes add up to 9 (ex: the inversion of a 2nd is a 7th)

Enharmonically Equivalent Intervals Intervals that span the same number of semitone but have different names are enharmonically equivalent. Ex: m3 and A2. It is imperative to spell the interval correctly, as that determines how it functions within a tonal context Consonat and Disonant Intervals Consonant: Pleasing to the ear, stable (Historically: unisons, octaves, fifths, thirds, sixths) Unisons, Octaves, fifths considered perfect consonants Thirds, sixths considered imperfect consonances Dissonant: jarring, clashing, unstable (Historically: seconds, sevenths, any augmented/diminished intervals) **The Perfect fourth has been grouped as both

Interval Class Intervals can also be grouped by Interval Class