Piano Keys and Intervals
The INTERVAL is the distance between any two notes. A half step is the distance between two adjacent piano keys. A whole step has 2 half steps or there is a key between the other two piano keys. The number of the interval is the number of scale tones or notes that make up the interval. From C to D is a 2nd, C to E is a 3rd, C to F is a 4th, C to G is a fifth, C to A is a sixth, C to B is a seventh, and C to C is an octave.
From C to Db is a half step. Any interval with a flattened step is a minor interval. C to Db is a Minor 2nd. We call it a 2nd interval because it is between the 1st and 2nd note of the scale. From C to D is a whole step. Any interval with whole steps that are not flattened is a major interval. From C to D is a major 2nd. From C to D# is one and a half steps. We add a half step to a whole step on the interval and it becomes augmented. From C to D# is an augmented 2nd chord. From C to Eb is one and a half steps. Note that this includes the 3rd note of the scale. When we lower E to Eb, it is a minor interval. From C to Eb is a minor 3rd interval. From C to E is 2 whole steps. This is a major interval. It has no flattened steps. From C to E is a major 3rd interval. Remember that a major 3rd interval has 2 whole steps and you can find any major 3rd interval. From C to F is a perfect 4th interval. It has 2 and a half steps. From C to F# has an added half step and it becomes augmented. From C to F# is an augmented 4th chord. From C to G is a perfect 5th interval. It has 3 and a half steps. We call the major 4th and major 5th intervals perfect 4th and 5th intervals. Note that C to F# or augmented 4th chord and the enharmonic note of C to Gb is the same note. The notes F# and Gb are enharmonic notes. From C to Gb is called a diminished interval. It has a flattened 5th note. When a 4th or 5th interval is lowered it is called a diminished interval. From C to G# is an augmented 5th interval. When a half step is added to a perfect 5th it becomes an augmented interval. From C to A is a major 6th interval. It has no flattened steps and is a major interval. From C to Bb is a minor 7th interval. It has a flattened 7th step and is a minor interval. From C to B is a major 7th interval. It has no flattened step and is a major interval. Next lesson is Chords
|
