Interval Qualities

Lesson 3/93 | Study Time: 5 Min

Course: Music Theory

Interval Qualities

Different intervals have different qualities, as shown here:

QUALITY:	Can be applied to:
Perfect	Unisons, 4ths, 5ths and Octaves
Major	2nds, 3rds, 6ths and 7ths
Minor	2nds, 3rds, 6ths and 7ths
Augmented	All intervals
Diminished	All intervals

These intervals are best explained with the aid of a chromatic scale. If you look at the one shown here, it is easy to see that since intervals are measured in semitones, they may begin or end on a sharp or flat rather than a natural note.

Perfect intervals are 4ths, 5ths and octaves. If you widen a perfect interval by a semitone it becomes augmented (added to). For example, if you add a semitone to the perfect 4th interval C to F, it becomes the augmented 4th interval C to F#. Notice that the letter name remains the same–it is not referred to as C to Gb.

If you narrow a perfect interval by a semitone they become diminished (lessened). For example, if you lessen the perfect 5th interval D to A by a semitone, it becomes the diminished 5th interval D to Ab. Again, the letter name remains the same–it is not referred to as D to G#.

Major intervals (2nds, 3rds, 6ths and 7ths) become minor if narrowed by a semitone and minor intervals become major if widened by a semitone. A diminished interval can be created by narrowing a perfect or minor interval by a semitone. An augmented interval can be created by widening a perfect or major interval by a semitone.

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1- More About Harmony 2- Transposing 3- Keys and Key Signatures 4- Sixteenth Notes 5- Simple and Compound Time 6- Intervals 7- Chords 8- The Major Scale 9- Chord Inversions 10- Minor Keys And Scales 11- Tones and Semitones 12- Scale Tone Chords 13- Dynamics 14- Secondary Triads 15- Ledger Lines 16- INTRODUCTION 17- Musical Form 18- How to Read Music 19- Glossary of Musical Terms 20- The Bass Staff 21- Dotted Notes 22- More titles by LearnToPlayMusic.com 23- Swing Rhythms 24- Minor Key Scale Tone Triads 25- Seventh Chord 26- Note Values 27- G Major Chord Inversions 28- Accidentals 29- Six Eight Time ( <span class="symbolA">)</span> ) 30- Interval Qualities 31- Scale Tone Seventh Chords 32- Chord Construction – Triads 33- Syncopation 34- Learning Minor Scales in all keys 35- Chord Progressions 36- 12 Bar Blues 37- Approach to Practice 38- Primary Triads 39- Chord Functions 40- Chords in Other Minor Keys 41- The Key Cycle 42- The Notes on The Treble Staff 43- Notes on The Bass Staff 44- Bar Lines 45- The Three Four Time Signature 46- The Lead-in 47- Volume Changes 48- Sharps 49- The Octave 50- Harmonizing Melodies 51- Major Scales in All Keys 52- Enharmonic Notes 53- The Grand Staff 54- Time Signatures 55- The Two Four Time Signature 56- Transposing in Minor Keys 57- Voice Leading 58- Slurs 59- Harmony 60- Grouping Notes in Compound Time 61- Tempo Markings 62- Relative Keys 63- Interval Distances 64- Arpeggios 65- Scale Degrees 66- Double Sharps and Double Flats 67- The Chromatic Scale 68- Tempo Changes 69- Identifying Intervals By Ear 70- Rests 71- Harmonic Minor Scale Tone Chords 72- Chord Symbols 73- Grouping Eighth Notes 74- Practice Progressions 75- Flats 76- Melodies to Harmonize With Primary Triads 77- Twelve Eight Time ( <span class="symbolA">+</span> ) 78- Rhythm Notation 79- Staccato 80- C Major Scale Over Four Octaves 81- Grouping Notes And Rests 82- Ties 83- Melodic Minor Scale Tone Chords 84- Major Scale Pattern 85- Major Key Triad Pattern 86- Melodies to Harmonize 87- Cadences 88- Scale Tone Chords in All Keys 89- The G Major Scale 90- Further Study 91- Common Progressions 92- The F Major Scale 93- Other Major Scales

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Interval Qualities