Decoding Intervals: How to Name and Identify Them Using the Major Scale
Having a solid grasp on intervals is essential for you to understand more complex musical concepts like chords, scales, arpeggios, and melodies. In this article, we’ll dive into how intervals are named and cover a straightforward way of identifying intervals using the major scale.
If you haven’t already, check out my article, Understanding Intervals in Music: Intervals are the Musical Colors That We Paint With, which explores the main musical intervals, their emotional qualities, and common examples in popular music.
How we name intervals
Intervals names are named based on two things:
Distance: This is the numerical part of the interval, measured by the number of scale degrees from the root note.
From C to E, count the starting note (C) as the first position and proceed to E, which is the third position. This interval is therefore called a third.
| Scale Degree | Root | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | 6th | 7th |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Note | C | D | E | F | G | A | B |
Quality: The quality of an interval defines its unique flavor or character. All intervals can be broken out into one of these types:
Perfect intervals (unison, fourth, fifth, octave) these have the feeling of consonance and stability and and by definition cannot be major or minor.
Major and minor intervals (seconds, thirds, sixths, sevenths) have a polarity to them that perfect intervals don’t: they take on a feeling of happiness/lightness or sadness/darkness. This becomes particularly noticeable when they are brought into the context of a major or minor triad.
Augmented and diminished intervals - these are intervals that are created by going up a half step (augmented) or going down a half step (diminished) from the standard set of intervals.
Examples in the C Major Scale
The C Major scale is a great reference point for learning intervals because it has no sharps or flats and it contains only perfect and major intervals.
| Example Interval | Interval | Interval ShorthandName |
|---|---|---|
| C to D | Major 2nd | M2 |
| C to E | Major 3rd | M3 |
| C to F | Perfect 4th | P4 |
| C to G | Perfect 5th | P5 |
| C to A | Major 6th | M6 |
| C to B | Major 7th | M7 |
| C to C (octave) | Perfect 8th | P8 |
Augmented and Diminished Intervals
Augmented and diminished intervals happen when you go up or down from the standard major or perfect intervals using accidentals: (# or b):
Augmented intervals: are created if you go up a half step (or semitone) from any perfect or major interval (e.g., C to F# is an augmented fourth).
Diminished intervals: are created if you go down a half step (or semitone) from a perfect or minor interval (e.g., C to Gb is a diminished fifth).
| Example Interval | Interval Name | Interval Shorthand | Steps from Root |
|---|---|---|---|
| C to C | Unison | P1 | 0 |
| C to Db | Minor 2nd | m2 | 0.5 |
| C to D | Major 2nd | M2 | 1 |
| C to D# | Augmented 2nd | aug2 | 1.5 |
| C to Eb | Minor 3rd | m3 | 1.5 |
| C to E | Major 3rd | M3 | 2 |
| C to E# | Augmented 3rd | aug3 | 2.5 |
| C to F | Perfect 4th | P4 | 2.5 |
| C to F# | Augmented 4th | aug4 | 3 |
| C to Gb | Diminished 5th | dim5 | 3 |
| C to G | Perfect 5th | P5 | 3.5 |
| C to G# | Augmented 5th | aug5 | 4 |
| C to Ab | Minor 6th | m6 | 4 |
| C to A | Major 6th | M6 | 4.5 |
| C to A# | Augmented 6th | aug6 | 5 |
| C to Bb | Minor 7th | m7 | 5 |
| C to B | Major 7th | M7 | 5.5 |
| C to C (higher) | Perfect Octave | P8 | 6 |
Rules of the Musical Road
You can have a situation where you have two different intervals that have the same pitch (i.e. sound that we hear). Augmented fourth (C to F#) and a diminished fifth (C to Gb) are actually the same pitch but whether you use one or the other depends on the musical situation you find yourself in. For example, if you are describing a 1 - 3 - 5# in C Major, you have to say you’re using G# as the fifth.
You can technically augment or diminish an interval multiple times. For example, F## (F double-sharp) or Gbb (G double-flat) can technically exist but don’t come up often.
One Easy Trick to Identify Intervals Using the Major Scale
One fundamental way to identify intervals is by constructing a major scale using the whole-whole-half-whole-whole-whole-half (W-W-H-W-W-W-H) formula. Once you have the scale, compare the two notes of your interval:
Steps:
Build the major scale starting from the root note using the W-W-H-W-W-W-H pattern.
Determine the position of the second note within the scale (ie, 2nd , 3rd)
Check to see if the second note fits within the major scale. If it fits, it will be either a perfect or major interval.
If the second note is outside the scale, adjust the name based on whether it’s a minor, augmented, or diminished interval. Remember that perfect intervals cannot be made major or minor. They are adjusted by either becoming diminished or augmented.
Examples
Example 1: C to E
Create the C major scale: C, D, E, F, G, A, B.
E is the third note of the scale, so the interval is a major third (M3).
Example 2: C to Eb
E is the third note in the scale (M3). Eb is a half step lower than E, so the interval is a minor third (m3).
Example 3: C to F#
F F# is not in the C major scale. It is a semitone higher than F, so the interval is an augmented fourth (aug4).
Common Short-Notation
Intervals have shorthand notations to make it easier to convey in written form.
Perfect: P4, P5
Major: M3, M6
Minor: m3, m6
Augmented: aug4, aug5
Diminished: dim5
| Interval Name | Interval Number | Shorthand | Chord Notation | Song Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unison | 1 | P1 | Root | Happy Birthday (same note) |
| Minor 2nd | 2 | m2 | ♭2 | Jaws Theme (dum, dum) |
| Major 2nd | 2 | M2 | 2 | Frère Jacques |
| Minor 3rd | 3 | m3 | ♭3 | Greensleeves |
| Major 3rd | 3 | M3 | 3 | When the Saints Go Marching In |
| Perfect 4th | 4 | P4 | 4 | Here Comes the Bride |
| Augmented 4th/Diminished 5th | 4/5 | aug4/dim5 | ♭5 | Maria (West Side Story) |
| Perfect 5th | 5 | P5 | 5 | Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star |
| Minor 6th | 6 | m6 | ♭6 | Love Story Theme (Where Do I Begin) |
| Major 6th | 6 | M6 | 6 | NBC Chimes |
| Minor 7th | 7 | m7 | ♭7 | Somewhere (West Side Story) |
| Major 7th | 7 | M7 | 7 | Take on Me (A-ha chorus) |
| Octave | 8 | P8 | Octave | Somewhere Over the Rainbow |
How will knowing my intervals help me? 🎶
Mastering interval notation and identification is a crucial step toward unlocking a deeper understanding of music. 🌟 It forms the foundation for grasping essential concepts like chords, scales, arpeggios, melodies, and more. 🎸 Get ready, because next we’ll dive into ways to sharpen your interval recognition skills and enhance your ear training! 👂🎧
