Interactive Interval Explorer
Intervals are the building blocks of melody and harmony. Select any interval to see it on the keyboard and hear its unique sound.
C to G
Stable, powerful - 'Star Wars' opening
What is an Interval?
An interval is the distance between two notes. Each interval has a unique sound quality that creates different emotional effects in music.
Interval Qualities
Intervals are classified as perfect (unison, 4th, 5th, octave), major/minor (2nd, 3rd, 6th, 7th), or augmented/diminished. Each quality has a distinct character.
Ear Training Tip
Associate each interval with a famous song. Perfect 5th = Star Wars theme, Octave = Somewhere Over the Rainbow. This makes intervals easier to recognize.
Interval Reference
All 13 intervals from unison to octave. Click any interval to explore it above.
| Interval | Semitones | Quality |
|---|---|---|
| Unison(P1) | 0 | perfect |
| Minor 2nd(m2) | 1 | minor |
| Major 2nd(M2) | 2 | major |
| Minor 3rd(m3) | 3 | minor |
| Major 3rd(M3) | 4 | major |
| Perfect 4th(P4) | 5 | perfect |
| Tritone(TT) | 6 | augmented |
| Perfect 5th(P5) | 7 | perfect |
| Minor 6th(m6) | 8 | minor |
| Major 6th(M6) | 9 | major |
| Minor 7th(m7) | 10 | minor |
| Major 7th(M7) | 11 | major |
| Octave(P8) | 12 | perfect |
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Noteshift turned plain-language descriptions into professional sheet music. The app is no longer open to the public, but we'd like to hear from you if you're interested in it.
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