MTME Lesson 2: Intervals (Part 3)
Congratulations on getting this far. I hope you're finding intervals are not too hard. This lesson gets a little more tricky since we will now look at how to find lower intervals.
There are two main ways to find lower intervals. The first method requires less explanation but to me, it is harder. The second method requires more explanation but I think is easier. I have provided the interval chart as well. Here goes...
There are two main ways to find lower intervals. The first method requires less explanation but to me, it is harder. The second method requires more explanation but I think is easier. I have provided the interval chart as well. Here goes...
Half Steps
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 |
Interval Name
Unison m2 M2 m3 M3 P4 Skip P5 m6 M6 m7 M7 Octave |
Method 1
How do you find a minor third below D.
Step 1- Find D on the keyboard
Step 2- Look at the chart and figure out how many half steps a minor third has.
Step 3- Count these half steps down from D
The answer is B
Was that easy? To me, that is difficult because while I am really good at counting up, I am not as good at counting down. In a timed situation, it would take me too long to find the answers. If you are good at this, then you can use this method. This class is not like math. I don't care how you get the answers. I only care that you get the right answers as quick as possible.
How do you find a minor third below D.
Step 1- Find D on the keyboard
Step 2- Look at the chart and figure out how many half steps a minor third has.
Step 3- Count these half steps down from D
The answer is B
Was that easy? To me, that is difficult because while I am really good at counting up, I am not as good at counting down. In a timed situation, it would take me too long to find the answers. If you are good at this, then you can use this method. This class is not like math. I don't care how you get the answers. I only care that you get the right answers as quick as possible.
Method 2
The second method requires a bit more knowledge and logic but it gets you the answers faster (in my opinion). When you look at the interval chart, notice that 0 (unison) and 12 (octave) have the same answer. This is because there is a special relationship between those two notes. Logic would then dictate that there should be a special relationship between all notes.... and there is.
If I have an A and I go up a major 3rd, I get C#. How much would I have to go down to get a C# below A? The answer is a minor 6th. If I have an A and I go up a major 2nd, I get B. How much would I have to go down to get a B below A? The answer is minor 7th. Essentially, the following relationships happen when you go down:
P=P
m=M
1=8
2=7
3=6
4=5
There is no official term for this but I have termed it "Opposite Interval." At chart with Opposite Intervals is displayed below:
The second method requires a bit more knowledge and logic but it gets you the answers faster (in my opinion). When you look at the interval chart, notice that 0 (unison) and 12 (octave) have the same answer. This is because there is a special relationship between those two notes. Logic would then dictate that there should be a special relationship between all notes.... and there is.
If I have an A and I go up a major 3rd, I get C#. How much would I have to go down to get a C# below A? The answer is a minor 6th. If I have an A and I go up a major 2nd, I get B. How much would I have to go down to get a B below A? The answer is minor 7th. Essentially, the following relationships happen when you go down:
P=P
m=M
1=8
2=7
3=6
4=5
There is no official term for this but I have termed it "Opposite Interval." At chart with Opposite Intervals is displayed below:
Half Steps
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 |
Interval
Unison m2 M2 m3 M3 P4 Skip P5 m6 M6 m7 M7 Octave |
Opposite Interval
Octave M7 m7 M6 m6 P5 Skip P4 M3 m3 M2 m2 Unison |
Here's how it works....
Find a Perfect 5th below A.
Step 1- Find A
Step 2- Realize that a P5 below A is the same as a P4 above A.
Step 3- Find a Perfect 4th above A.
The answer is D
Again, I don't care how you get the answer, as long as you get it quickly, I'm fine.
You must however know the opposite interval. It will be on the test. It is just reversed of the original Interval so it shouldn't be hard.
Try some of these:
What is a minor 6th below F#?
What is a major 7th below G?
What is a perfect 5th below C#?
Find a Perfect 5th below A.
Step 1- Find A
Step 2- Realize that a P5 below A is the same as a P4 above A.
Step 3- Find a Perfect 4th above A.
The answer is D
Again, I don't care how you get the answer, as long as you get it quickly, I'm fine.
You must however know the opposite interval. It will be on the test. It is just reversed of the original Interval so it shouldn't be hard.
Try some of these:
What is a minor 6th below F#?
What is a major 7th below G?
What is a perfect 5th below C#?
Tips and Tricks
So have any of you wondered how I figure out my intervals so fast? Aside from know the opposite interval trick that I explained on top, I also have all of my P5ths memorized. If I get asked a question on m2, M2, m3 and M3, I just count up from the first note. If I get anything asked about P4, I just go a whole step down from P5. If I need any type of m6 or M6 I just go up from P5 and if I need to know m7 or M7, I just go down from Octave which is the same as unison!
There is a chart called a Circle of 5th that is used a lot in music. Memorize the chart and you will know all of your P5ths. I learned this chart going clockwise and going clockwise makes this the circle of 5ths. If you learn the chart going counter clockwise, it is the circle of 4ths. Either way gets you the same answers as you can see below:
There is a chart called a Circle of 5th that is used a lot in music. Memorize the chart and you will know all of your P5ths. I learned this chart going clockwise and going clockwise makes this the circle of 5ths. If you learn the chart going counter clockwise, it is the circle of 4ths. Either way gets you the same answers as you can see below:
The bottom of the circle Gb/F# are essentially the same note because they occupy the same key on the keyboard. We will go more into this shortly.
At some point, you will need to have this circle memorized but not immediately.
At some point, you will need to have this circle memorized but not immediately.