Question about intervals?

Question

When your counting intervals, should you think about it as a chromatic scale, or the scale of root note? For example of I have an interval of e to b, should I count it chromatically, or should I think of the key of e and count the steps? Are they both accurate methods? What if a note isn't in the scale?

Answer 1

Good question. We refer to the intervals using the standard diatonic scale (major scale) as the model. The intervals within the scale would be major intervals except the 4th, 5th and 8th (octave) which are known as "perfect" intervals.

Here is an example: beginning with the root of the major scale we have the following intervals; major 2nd, major 3rd, perfect 4th, perfect 5th, major 6th, major 7th, perfect octave.

If you flat a major interval by a half step it becomes a minor interval. If you flat a perfect 5th it becomes a diminished 5th (b5) {This can also be referred to as an augmented 4th (#4)}

Using the diatonic scale better describes the intervals and how they sound to us.

In technical terms you can diminish any perfect interval BUT a diminished octave is the same relationship as a major 7th. Likewise, a diminished 4th is the same thing as a major 3rd.

So a major 2nd that has been flatted is a minor 2nd, a major 3rd that has been flatted is a minor 3rd, etc. This allows us to name all or the intervals within the chromatic scale too. We still use the numeric relationship of the major (diatonic) scale but by calling an interval major, minor, diminished, or augmented we can accurately describe all of the intervals.

Using the chromatic scale we would have the following order of intervals; [root,] minor 2nd, major 2nd, minor 3rd, major 3rd, perfect 4th, diminished 5th (or augmented 4th) perfect 5th, minor 6th, major 6th, minor 7th, major 7th, perfect octave.

This can be a little confusing at first. You may want to enlist the help of a teacher or tutor to help you with this.

Answer 2

When you talk about intervals, you look at the letter - not the chromatic half steps involved. From E to B is a fifth ( E F G A B). What TYPE of fifth is another question. In this case it is a perfect fifth, but there are several types of intervals. There are major, minor, perfect, diminished and augmented intervals.



The key is a factor here, but the notes needn't be in that key naturally. For example, if you are in the key of C, a D Major chord is your secondary dominant ( V of V). There is an accidental (F#) in that chord, but you wouldn't naturally find that in C. In fact, you will find that F# used relatively frequently in C but F in that scale is natural. C to F would be a perfect fourth. C to F# is still a fourth, but it is an augmented fourth (which, incidentally would be very unusual melodically, since the augmented fourth is really disliked - sometimes called "the devil's interval").



In a major scale (let's use C) the intervals are as follows (each interval measured from the tonic "C"):



maj 2nd (D), maj 3rd (E), perfect 4th (F), perfect 5th (G) maj 6th (A), maj 7th (B) perfect octave



whereas in C minor the intervals change to:



maj 2nd (D), min 3rd (Eb), perfect 4th (F), perfect 5th (G), min 6th (Ab), min 7th (Bb), perfect octave (C)



(though using a harmonic or melodic minor would change those intervals slightly). So for example, from C to E (in C major) or from C to Eb (in C minor) is a third either way, (using the note letter names) but the first would be a major third and the second a minor third.



Hope that makes it clear as mud!

(C)

Answer 3

Comes out to the same thing.



E to B is 3 whole steps plus a half step (E to F# is a whole step, F# to G# is a whole step, G# to A is a half step, A to B is a whole step). Or you can count it as 8 half steps (E-F-F#-G-G#-A-A#-B). Either way, its an interval of a perfect fifth.