Exercises / Intervals / Lesson 3
Interval quality
Read accidentals and distinguish major, minor, perfect and altered intervals.
Learn the rule
Size first, quality second
Count the letter names first to find 2nd, 3rd, 4th or 5th. Then use chromatic half-step distance to determine quality.
Use half-step benchmarks
Minor/major second = 1/2; minor/major third = 3/4; perfect fourth = 5; tritone = 6; perfect fifth = 7; minor/major seventh = 10/11 semitones. Staff spelling distinguishes augmented fourth from diminished fifth.
Practice what you learned
Major and minor 2nds & 3rds
Combine staff steps and half steps to name major/minor intervals.
Perfect 4ths & 5ths
Identify perfect fourths and fifths using notation and semitones.
Augmented 4ths & diminished 5ths
Distinguish enharmonic tritones by written staff spelling.
Minor & major sevenths
Identify seventh qualities from staff notation and accidentals.
TRY IT BEFORE THE QUIZ
Move the notes. Count the steps.
Select two notes on the treble staff to see how written interval numbers are counted.
3 letter names, including both notes → 3rd
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