How Well Do You Know Your Intervals? - Music Theory

Music Matters
12 Jul 201806:30
EducationalLearning
32 Likes 10 Comments

TLDRThis video teaches how to name musical intervals by counting the distance between two notes. It provides five example intervals, analyzing each one by counting up from the lower note and determining if it's a third, fifth, etc. It explains the terminology around intervals like major, minor, diminished, etc. For those seeking to learn more, it directs viewers to music theory videos on the Music Matters website which explain intervals in detail across multiple grade levels.

Takeaways
  • 😀 The video teaches how to name musical intervals
  • 👂 Lower note is always numbered 1 when counting intervals
  • 🎹 Intervals are the distance between two notes
  • 🔢 Count the half steps between notes to get the interval number
  • ♯️ Identify if intervals are major, minor, augmented etc.
  • 🎼 The first interval shown is a minor third
  • 🔟 The second interval is a tenth or a compound minor third
  • 🔼 The third interval is an augmented fifth
  • ➗ The fourth interval is a diminished sixth
  • 🎚 The last interval with the funny sign is a diminished fourth
Q & A

  • What is an interval in music theory?

    -An interval in music theory refers to the distance between two musical notes.

  • How do you count intervals?

    -To count an interval, call the lower note number one and count up each note until you reach the upper note. The number of notes between the lower and upper note is the interval number.

  • What are some examples of intervals mentioned in the script?

    -Some examples of intervals mentioned are: minor third (F-sharp to A), tenth/compound minor third (D to F), augmented fifth (G to D-sharp), diminished sixth (A to F).

  • What is a compound interval?

    -A compound interval occurs when the distance between two notes is greater than an octave. For example, the interval from D to F spans over an octave, so it can be called a compound minor third.

  • What does it mean when an interval is augmented or diminished?

    -An augmented interval means it has been widened by a semitone compared to the perfect or major interval. A diminished interval means it has been narrowed by a semitone compared to the perfect or minor interval.

  • What resources are available to learn more about intervals?

    -The video recommends going to the Music Matters website theory section, which covers intervals in grades 1-5 video lessons.

  • What were the five intervals shown in the video?

    -The five intervals were: minor third (F-sharp to A), minor tenth/compound minor third (D to F), augmented fifth (G to D-sharp), diminished sixth (A to F), and diminished fourth (G to C).

  • What note do you always start counting from when identifying an interval?

    -You always start counting from the lower note as number one when identifying an interval.

  • What are the basic interval qualities?

    -The basic interval qualities are major, minor, perfect, augmented and diminished.

  • Is interval identification required to understand this video?

    -No, the video host clarifies that interval identification is not required to follow along. It is provided for additional practice for those interested in learning more music theory.

Outlines
00:00
😊 Naming Musical Intervals

The first paragraph introduces musical intervals, which refer to the distance between two notes. It mentions that intervals can be named and classified into types like minor, major, diminished. The instructor then walks through identifying 5 example intervals, analyzing the distance between notes and naming the interval type.

05:03
i Where to Learn More About Intervals

The second paragraph points viewers to the Music Matters website if they want to learn more about naming intervals. It mentions there are graded videos explaining interval theory, so by grade 5 you'll know everything about identifying intervals.

Mindmap
Keywords
💡interval
An interval is the distance between two musical notes. Intervals are important for understanding melody and harmony in music. The video explains how to identify and name different intervals, like minor thirds and augmented fifths. Intervals feature throughout the examples in the video script.
💡count
Counting intervals means identifying the number of notes between two pitches. For example, the distance between C and E is a third because there are three note names: C, D, E. Counting intervals is the first step to naming them.
💡compound interval
A compound interval occurs when two notes are more than an octave apart. The video explains that intervals wider than an octave can also be named as compound intervals within an octave. For example, the D to F interval is called a minor tenth or a compound minor third.
💡octave
An octave represents the distance between one musical pitch and another with double its frequency. When naming wide intervals, notes can be moved up or down by octaves as compound intervals to simplify interval naming.
💡major
Major is used to describe certain interval types, like major thirds and major sixths. The video does not explain major intervals in depth but introduces them as a concept for more advanced interval identification.
💡minor
Minor describes interval types like minor thirds and minor tenths. The video names several minor intervals in the musical examples provided in the transcript.
💡diminished
Diminished intervals like diminished fourths and diminished sixths have a half-step smaller size compared to similar minor or perfect intervals. Diminished intervals feature a couple times in the transcript examples.
💡augmented
Augmented intervals are half a step wider than major or perfect intervals of the same number name. One example in the video is an augmented fifth.
💡perfect
Some intervals like unisons, fourths, fifths, and octaves are called perfect intervals. The video does not explicitly explain perfect intervals, but names them as a category in understanding intervals.
💡grade
The video refers to music theory grades to indicate more detailed interval resources. Higher grades correspond to more advanced levels of interval identification.
Highlights

Intervals are the distance between two notes

To determine the interval number, count the lower note as number one and count up to the upper note

An interval larger than an octave is called a compound interval

A minor third interval is from F-sharp to A

A minor tenth interval (or compound minor third) is from D to F

An augmented fifth interval is from G to D-sharp

A diminished sixth interval is from A to F

A diminished fourth interval uses a double flattened seventh note

Pause the video to give yourself more time to think through interval calculations

Check the Music Matters website for more interval resources

Interval videos on the website cover grades one through five

Higher grade interval videos unfold the full details of interval naming

This video gives interval naming practice even if you're new to it

Don't worry if you don't know about intervals yet

Further interval help will be pointed out after going through examples

Transcripts

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