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Harmony 1
Week 3
Learning Outcomes
• By the end of today’s session students will be able to:
• Understand the two aspects of interval measurement
• Identify 2 different classes of intervals
• Construct perfect, major, minor, augmented and diminished intervals
Intervals
• An interval is the distance between notes
• The distance between two notes sounded one after the other is called
a melodic interval
• The distance between two notes sounded at the same time is called a
harmonic interval
• Intervals are defined by two measurements: Numerical and
Qualitative
Numerical measurement
• Numerical measurement is a general description that simply counts
the number of staff line and space names (inclusive) from one note to
the other.
• Accidentals are not included in this measurement
• For example, the distance from C up to A is six letter names: C, D, E, F,
G, A
• Therefore, the interval between C and A is a sixth
• This is true for both ascending and descending intervals
Qualitative measurement
• Qualitative measurement defines the interval’s distance as an exact
number of half steps.
• For example, the sixth – C up to A – is the distance of nine half steps.
• It’s called a major 6th
• The sixth – C up to Ab – is the distance of only eight half steps
• It’s called a minor 6th because its smaller than a major 6th
• These two measurements; number and quality allow us to define the
distance between any two notes
Perfect Class intervals
• Intervals fall into two basic categories: perfect and imperfect.
• Perfect intervals have a ‘purer’, less complex sound.
• The perfect unison is the easiest to understand
• Numerical value: 1
• Quality: 0 half steps
• The interval sounds absolutely pure because we are repeating the
same note
• The perfect octave is the next most pure sound
• Number value: 8
• Quality: 12 half steps
• Repeating the same note at different pitchs
• There are four perfect class intervals:
• Perfect unison (P1)
• Perfect octave (P8)
• Perfect 5th (P5)
• Perfect 4th (P4)
Perfect 5th
• The perfect 5th spans 5 letter names, and comprises 7 half steps
• If we place each of the fifths on the white keys of the keyboard we
can hear the same perfect vibration in all of them except one: WHY?
Count the steps
• The distance is 6 half steps, not 7 – which is the required distance for
a perfect 5th.
• The 5th from B to F is called a diminished fifth because it is a half step
smaller than a perfect 5th.
Perfect 4th
• A perfect 4th is the distance of 4 letter names and 5 half steps
• I.e. C up to F
• Examine the white note fourths, they all sound perfect except one:
WHY?
Count the Steps:
• F up to B is four letter names – same as the other white note fourths,
but it is larger than the other perfect fourths by a half step
• Because F to B is a half step larger than a perfect fourth, it’s called an
augmented fourth
Imperfect Class Intervals
• Seconds, Thirds, Sixths and Sevenths are imperfect class intervals
• They do not sound as pure as perfect intervals
Seconds
• Seconds are the distances between scale steps
• They come in two sizes
• The minor second is the distance of one half step
• Minor seconds and augmented unisons are enharmonic (they sound
the same but are written differently)
• The major second is the distance of two half steps (one whole step)
• It’s quality is referred to as major because it has a greater distance
between the two pitches than the smaller minor second
White note seconds:
• We can see that the 2nds that stand out are
the ones that fall between B and C and E and
F – where the jump from white note to white
note is only a half step
Thirds
• Thirds are intervals that are 3 letter names inclusive
• The major 3rd is four half steps
• The minor 3rds is three half steps
• Look at the white note thirds: both major and minor thirds
Sixths
• Sixths are intervals that are six letter names inclusive
• A major 6th is nine half steps
• A minor 6th is eight half steps
• The white note sixths include both major and minor 6ths:
Altering Thirds
• Major thirds can be made minor by decreasing the size of the interval
by one half step.
• Major thirds can be made augmented by increasing the size of the
interval by one half step.
• Minor thirds can be made major by increasing the size of the interval
by one half step.
• Minor thirds can be made diminished by decreasing the size of the
interval by one half step.
Altering Sixths
• Major sixths can be made minor by decreasing the size of the interval
by one half step.
• Major sixths can be made augmented by increasing the size of the
interval by one half step.
• Minor sixths can be made major by increasing the size of the interval
by one half step.
• Minor sixth can be made diminished by decreasing the size of the
interval by one half step.
Summary
• There are two classes of intervals: perfect and imperfect
(major/minor)
• Perfect intervals include unisons, 4ths, 5ths and octaves
• A perfect interval made larger by a half step becomes augmented
• A perfect interval made smaller by a half step becomes diminished
• Except there is no such interval as a diminished unison
Summary
• Imperfect intervals are either major or minor. 2nds, 3rds, 6ths, and
7ths are imperfect intervals
• A major interval made larger by a half step becomes augmented
• A major interval made smaller by a half step becomes minor
• A minor interval made larger by a half step becomes major
• A minor interval made smaller by a half step becomes diminished

More Related Content

H1 Week 3

  • 2. Learning Outcomes • By the end of today’s session students will be able to: • Understand the two aspects of interval measurement • Identify 2 different classes of intervals • Construct perfect, major, minor, augmented and diminished intervals
  • 3. Intervals • An interval is the distance between notes • The distance between two notes sounded one after the other is called a melodic interval • The distance between two notes sounded at the same time is called a harmonic interval • Intervals are defined by two measurements: Numerical and Qualitative
  • 4. Numerical measurement • Numerical measurement is a general description that simply counts the number of staff line and space names (inclusive) from one note to the other. • Accidentals are not included in this measurement • For example, the distance from C up to A is six letter names: C, D, E, F, G, A • Therefore, the interval between C and A is a sixth • This is true for both ascending and descending intervals
  • 5. Qualitative measurement • Qualitative measurement defines the interval’s distance as an exact number of half steps. • For example, the sixth – C up to A – is the distance of nine half steps. • It’s called a major 6th • The sixth – C up to Ab – is the distance of only eight half steps • It’s called a minor 6th because its smaller than a major 6th • These two measurements; number and quality allow us to define the distance between any two notes
  • 6. Perfect Class intervals • Intervals fall into two basic categories: perfect and imperfect. • Perfect intervals have a ‘purer’, less complex sound. • The perfect unison is the easiest to understand • Numerical value: 1 • Quality: 0 half steps • The interval sounds absolutely pure because we are repeating the same note
  • 7. • The perfect octave is the next most pure sound • Number value: 8 • Quality: 12 half steps • Repeating the same note at different pitchs • There are four perfect class intervals: • Perfect unison (P1) • Perfect octave (P8) • Perfect 5th (P5) • Perfect 4th (P4)
  • 8. Perfect 5th • The perfect 5th spans 5 letter names, and comprises 7 half steps • If we place each of the fifths on the white keys of the keyboard we can hear the same perfect vibration in all of them except one: WHY?
  • 9. Count the steps • The distance is 6 half steps, not 7 – which is the required distance for a perfect 5th. • The 5th from B to F is called a diminished fifth because it is a half step smaller than a perfect 5th.
  • 10. Perfect 4th • A perfect 4th is the distance of 4 letter names and 5 half steps • I.e. C up to F • Examine the white note fourths, they all sound perfect except one: WHY?
  • 11. Count the Steps: • F up to B is four letter names – same as the other white note fourths, but it is larger than the other perfect fourths by a half step • Because F to B is a half step larger than a perfect fourth, it’s called an augmented fourth
  • 12. Imperfect Class Intervals • Seconds, Thirds, Sixths and Sevenths are imperfect class intervals • They do not sound as pure as perfect intervals
  • 13. Seconds • Seconds are the distances between scale steps • They come in two sizes • The minor second is the distance of one half step • Minor seconds and augmented unisons are enharmonic (they sound the same but are written differently) • The major second is the distance of two half steps (one whole step) • It’s quality is referred to as major because it has a greater distance between the two pitches than the smaller minor second
  • 14. White note seconds: • We can see that the 2nds that stand out are the ones that fall between B and C and E and F – where the jump from white note to white note is only a half step
  • 15. Thirds • Thirds are intervals that are 3 letter names inclusive • The major 3rd is four half steps • The minor 3rds is three half steps • Look at the white note thirds: both major and minor thirds
  • 16. Sixths • Sixths are intervals that are six letter names inclusive • A major 6th is nine half steps • A minor 6th is eight half steps • The white note sixths include both major and minor 6ths:
  • 17. Altering Thirds • Major thirds can be made minor by decreasing the size of the interval by one half step. • Major thirds can be made augmented by increasing the size of the interval by one half step. • Minor thirds can be made major by increasing the size of the interval by one half step. • Minor thirds can be made diminished by decreasing the size of the interval by one half step.
  • 18. Altering Sixths • Major sixths can be made minor by decreasing the size of the interval by one half step. • Major sixths can be made augmented by increasing the size of the interval by one half step. • Minor sixths can be made major by increasing the size of the interval by one half step. • Minor sixth can be made diminished by decreasing the size of the interval by one half step.
  • 19. Summary • There are two classes of intervals: perfect and imperfect (major/minor) • Perfect intervals include unisons, 4ths, 5ths and octaves • A perfect interval made larger by a half step becomes augmented • A perfect interval made smaller by a half step becomes diminished • Except there is no such interval as a diminished unison
  • 20. Summary • Imperfect intervals are either major or minor. 2nds, 3rds, 6ths, and 7ths are imperfect intervals • A major interval made larger by a half step becomes augmented • A major interval made smaller by a half step becomes minor • A minor interval made larger by a half step becomes major • A minor interval made smaller by a half step becomes diminished