Interval
The short version
The distance between two notes.
Intervals get names by how many letter-steps they cover: second, third, fourth, fifth, octave. Each one has its own flavour — a fifth sounds open and strong, a minor second sounds anxious.
Hear every common interval
Both notes together, then one after the other.
Minor 2ndtense, film-score dread
Major 2nda normal step
Minor 3rdsad, the minor colour
Major 3rdbright, the major colour
Perfect 4thstrong, anthem-like
Tritoneunstable, wants to move
Perfect 5thopen, powerful
Major 6thsweet, nostalgic
Minor 7thbluesy, unresolved
Octavethe same note, higher
Why you'd careOnce you can hear intervals you can work out melodies by ear instead of guessing.
Go deeper
Counted in semitones from the lower note: minor 2nd 1, major 2nd 2, minor 3rd 3, major 3rd 4, perfect 4th 5, tritone 6, perfect 5th 7, minor 6th 8, major 6th 9, minor 7th 10, major 7th 11, octave 12.
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