Lesson 18 (June 14)

Lesson 18: Music intervals (will be on the Spring Term Test)

• measure the distance between two pitches precisely by the number of half steps

  • reminder: 2 half steps = 1 whole step

  • so far, how we measure the distance between 2 pitches is by using steps, skips, leaps, but don't know the exact distance

  • intervals is something that Western music theory use to measure the distance between 2 pitches

  • basic interval distances: use numbers to measure (e.g. distance from the pitch A to the pitch E is 5, also count the first pitch as 1, A(1) B(2) C(3) D(4) E(5), therefore, the distance from A to E is 5)

  • types of intervals can be identify by the number of half steps making the interval

  • 5 types of intervals:

    • Major: applies only on the interval distance 2, 3, 6, 7

    • Perfect: applies only on the interval distance 1, 4, 5, 8

    • Minor: applies only on the interval distance 2, 3, 6, 7

    • Augmented: can be found in all intervals

    • Diminished: can be found in all intervals

  • Major and Perfect intervals do not require any accidentals if questions has a key signature (except C major because it has no sharps and flats) and the lowest pitch is the scale degree number 1 of the major scale (e.g. if the key signature has 3 sharps = A major, and the lowest pitch of the question is A, any pitch above will automatically make either a Major or Perfect interval)

  • Steps to identify intervals:

    • 1. identify the simple number of distance between 2 pitches given and write the number down

    • 2. identify the major key, (or pretend the lowest pitch is the given major key)

    • 3. identify how many half steps is making the interval

    • 4. write the type of interval from the number of half steps