Intervals
Interval
The distance between two notes. Intervals are the basic building blocks of melody and harmony.
Melodic Interval
Two notes follow each other in time.
Harmonic Interval
Two notes sound at the same time.
An interval name has two parts.
Quality
A word describing the interval's relationship to a major scale.
Distance
A number or word describing the pitch distance between the two notes.
Examples of Interval Names
Quality Distance
Perfect Unison
Major Second
Minor 3rd
Melodic vs. Harmonic
An interval can be either melodic or harmonic.
A melodic interval occurs when two notes follow each other in time.
A harmonic interval occurs when two notes are sounding at the same time.
Unisons
Unison
Two notes that are the same written note. Both notes use the same note name.
Notice that both notes in a unison will be on the same line or space.
Unisons can be:
Diminished Unison
The second pitch is a half-step lower than the first.
Perfect Unison
The second pitch is exactly the same as the first.
Augmented Unison
The second pitch is a half-step higher than the first.
Notice how the second note is written as the same note name, but, due to accidentals, can still be a half step higher or lower.
We will study these quality names and how they relate to the scale in Level 3.
To review whole and half-steps see Major Tetrachords.
Seconds
Second (2nd)
Two notes that are a step apart.
Notice that the two notes will always be a space to a line or a line to a space.
2nds can be:
Diminished 2nd
The higher written note is the same pitch as the lower note.
Minor 2nd
The higher note is a half-step higher than the lower note.
Major 2nd
The higher note is a whole-step higher than the lower note
Augmented 2nd
The higher note is 3 half steps higher than the lower note.
We will study these quality names and how they relate to the scale in Level 3.