Examples of INTERVALS

A few examples of the intervals second and third are shown in the following two chapters. The second and third are chosen because they are the most important intervals for learning music theory.

The second is important for scales. In chapter SCALES, we shall build scales using only the major and minor second. The third is important for chords. In chapter CHORDS, we shall build chords using only the major and minor third. 

Examples of seconds

We say that two notes span the interval of a second if they occupy adjacent staff positions i.e. they are positioned on a staff line and a staff space that are adjacent. The next figure shows examples of seconds. In the previous chapter, we learned that M2 denotes a major second while m2 denotes a minor one.  

Figure: Examples of seconds

We say that the interval second is a major second if notes span three adjacent pitches (or equivalently three adjacent piano keys). The previous figure shows the major seconds: between C4 and D4, between E4 and F#4, between F#4 and G#4 and between Bb4 and C5. The next figure shows the piano keyboards where we can easily check that there are three piano keys spanning each of the mentioned intervals.

Figure: The major seconds between C4 and D4, between E4 and F#4, between F#4 and G#4 and between Bb4 and C5

We say that the interval second is a minor second if notes span two adjacent pitches (or equivalently two adjacent piano keys). The penultimate figure shows the minor seconds: between C4 and Db4, between C#4 and D4 and between E4 and F4. The next figure shows the piano keyboards where we can easily check that there are two piano keys spanning each of the mentioned intervals.

Figure: The minor seconds between C4 and Db4, between C#4 and D4 and between E4 and F4

Examples of thirds

In the following examples, we can see that the interval third spans three staff positions. A major third spans five pitches (or piano keys) and a minor third spans four pitches (or piano keys).

Figure: The examples of minor thirds

The next figure shows the piano keyboards where we can easily check that there are five piano keys spanning the major third while four piano keys are spanning the minor third.

Figure: The major second between C4 and E4 and the minor second between D4 and F4