An interval is the distance between two notes, the root and the next note. There are two kinds of intervals, harmonic and melodic.

The smallest distance is the half step. If you add two half steps, it becomes a whole step.

Note that between the notes E-F and B-C are already half steps.

Usually we measure the intervals diatonically. It means measuring the distance with half steps and whole steps which is the distance between each notes in the major scale. In the major scale, the intervals are whole steps except between the 3rd – 4th and the 7th – 8th note which are half steps.

Unison (Same note)

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Minor 2nd (Half step)

Jaws (John Williams)
Symphony No.40 1st movement (Mozart)
Für Elise (Beethoven)
Major 2nd (Whole step, 2 half steps)

Silent Night
Yesterday (Beatles)
Minor 3rd (1 whole step + 1 half step)

Seven Nation Army (White stripes)
Hey Jude (Beatles)
Major 3rd (2 whole steps)

Oh when the saints go marching in
Summer time
Perfect 4th (2 whole steps + 1 half step)

Amazing grace
Under pressure (Queen)
Tri-tone, Augmented 4th, Diminished 5th (3 whole steps)

The Simpsons
Evenflow (Pearl jam)
Perfect 5th (3 whole steps + 1 half step)

Blackbird (Beatles)
Theme of Game of Thrones
Minor 6th (3 whole steps + 2 half steps)

Based on the intervals from the diatonic scale (A major scale in this case) there are 3 whole steps and 2 half steps; not 4 whole steps. A-B-C#-D-E-F
In my life (Beatles)
Theme from Love story
Major 6th (4 whole steps + 1 half step)

My way (Frank Sinatra)
Over there!
Minor 7th (4 whole steps + 2 half steps)

Josie (Steely Dan)
Watermelon Man (Herbie Hancock)
Major 7th (5 whole steps + 1 half step)

Take on me (a-ha)
I love you (Cole Porter)
Octave (5 whole steps + 2 half steps)

Sweet child o mine (Guns N’ Roses)
Willow weep for me
Images and content is ©Steven Ohm(2020). All rights reserved.


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