You are here

Naming Interval

22 July, 2019 - 10:18
Available under Creative Commons-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Download for free at http://cnx.org/contents/2ad74b7b-a72f-42a9-a31b-7e75542e54bd@3.74

The first step in naming the interval is to find the distance between the notes as they are written on the staff. Count every line and every space in between the notes, as well as the lines or spaces that the notes are on. This gives you the number for the interval.

Example

media/image146.png
Figure 4.25 Counting Intervals

To find the interval, count the lines or spaces that the two notes are on as well as all the lines or spaces in between. The interval between B and D is a third. The interval between A and F is a sixth. Note that, at this stage, key signature, clef, and accidentals do not matter at all.

The simple intervals are one octave or smaller.

media/image147.png
Figure 4.26 Simple Intervals

If you like you can listen to each interval as written in the above Figure 4.26: prime, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, octave.

Compound intervals are larger than an octave.

media/image148.png
Figure 4.27 Compound Intervals

Listen to the compound intervals in the above Figure 4.27: ninth, tenth, eleventh.

Exercise 4.10:

Name the intervals.

media/image149.png
Figure 4.28 Exercise 4.10

Exercise 4.11

Write a note that will give the named interval.

media/image150.png
Figure 4.29 Exercise 4.11