Intervals
Definition
Difference in pitch between two sounds
Description
Difference in pitch between two sounds
- harmonic or vertical: The two notes sound simultaneously
- melodic or horizontal: The two notes sound successively
Main intervals
| semitones | interval | short | from C |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | perfect unison | P1 | C |
| 1 | minor second (semitone) | m2 | D♭ |
| 2 | major second (tone) | M2 | D |
| 3 | minor third | m3 | E♭ |
| 4 | major third | M3 | E |
| 5 | perfect fourth | P4 | F |
| 6 | diminished fifth/augmented fourth (tritone) | d5/A4 | G♭/F♯ |
| 7 | perfect fifth | P5 | G |
| 8 | minor sixth/augmented fifth | m6/A5 | A♭/G♯ |
| 9 | major sixth | M6 | A |
| 10 | minor seventh | m7 | B♭ |
| 11 | major seventh | M7 | B |
| 12 | perfect octave | P8 | C |
Inversions
- The interval number and the number of its inversion always add up to nine
- The inversion of a major interval is a minor interval, and vice versa.
- The inversion of a perfect interval is also perfect.
- The inversion of an augmented interval is a diminished interval and vice versa.
Compound intervals
| semitones | interval | short | from C |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13 | minor ninth | m9 | D♭ |
| 14 | major ninth | M9 | D |
| 15 | minor tenth | m10 | E♭ |
| 16 | major tenth | M10 | E |
| 17 | perfect eleventh | P11 | F |
| 18 | diminished twelfth/augmented eleventh | d12/A11 | G♭/F♯ |
| 19 | perfect twelth (tritave) | P12 | G |
| 20 | minor thirteenth | m13 | A♭ |
| 21 | major thirteenth | M13 | A |
| 22 | minor fourteenth | m14 | B♭ |
| 23 | major fourteenth | M14 | B |
| 24 | perfect fifteenth (double octave) | P15 | C |