Intervals
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An interval in regards to music is the distance from one note to the next note.To start we will use the major scale note to discuss the first set of intervals. Our major scale consists of a whole step followed by a whole step then half step then followed by three whole steps and final a half step.(W,W,H,W,W,W,H) I like to use actual notes for this example. Here are the notes in our C major scale C,D,E,F,G,A,B. Again an interval is the distance from one note to the next. Each interval has a specific name assigned to it. The note C to D is a whole step away or two keys up on a piano (Including the black keys) or two frets up on a guitar. C to D is given the name major 2nd. That is the interval and its name. Next we look at the notes C to E. These two notes are two whole steps apart. This interval is called a major 3rd interval. C to F is called a perfect 4th interval. C to G is a perfect 5th interval. Now we look at C to A is a major 6th interval. C to B is a major 7th interval and we finish up with C to C which is called a perfect 8th. That’s really all that’s to understanding what an interval is and it’s name within a major scale.
The next step is now to look at the different intervals in a minor scale. Your minor scale appears as Whole step, half step, whole step, whole step, half step, whole step. (W,H,W,W,H,W,W,) As you can see there are different distance from one note to the next inside of our minor scale. Again lets use actual notes here. Here are the notes in my A minor scale A,B,C,D,E,F,G. If you remember from our major scale C to D is a whole step away from each other just as A to B in our minor scale is a whole step away. Therefor our interval of A to B is still called a major 2nd interval even tho we are look at a minor scale. Again all an interval is, is the distance from one note to the next. Now looking at the notes of A to C is called a minor 3rd interval. There is one whole step and one half step inside of a minor 3rd interval. Where as a major 3rd interval has two whole steps inside of it. Next we have the notes A to D and this distance is called a perfect 4th interval. A to E is a perfect 5th interval. A to F is a minor 6th interval. A to G is a minor 7th interval and last A to A is a perfect 8th interval. As you can see you do get a few new intervals when comparing the intervals in a major scale.
So you maybe asking why is this information important and how can it be used. When you talk about how a chord is constructed you can use intervals. For example a C major chord is composed of a major 3rd and a perfect 5th. This is a very detailed why to explain or constructor a chord. Intervals a one of the best ways to to train your ear. The first part of this training is to be able to identify each interval as individual notes. Second part is to be able to identify each interval as the notes are being play simultaneously. Just take a few intervals at a time as test yourself frequently. Once you are able to identify these different intervals you should be more accurate at figuring our songs by ear and get the music you hear in your head out on your instrument.
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