Intervals

Music intervals, heard and played

An interval is the distance between two notes, counted in half steps. Here are all twelve, from the minor second to the octave, with how many half steps each one is, what it sounds like and a song to remember it by.

Minor secondm2
Half steps
1
From C
C – D♭
You can hear a minor second in the Jaws theme. Humming that tune is the quickest way to recognise the interval by ear.
Major secondM2
Half steps
2
From C
C – D
You can hear a major second in Happy Birthday. Humming that tune is the quickest way to recognise the interval by ear.
Minor thirdm3
Half steps
3
From C
C – E♭
You can hear a minor third in Greensleeves. Humming that tune is the quickest way to recognise the interval by ear.
Major thirdM3
Half steps
4
From C
C – E
You can hear a major third in When the Saints Go Marching In. Humming that tune is the quickest way to recognise the interval by ear.
Perfect fourthP4
Half steps
5
From C
C – F
You can hear a perfect fourth in Here Comes the Bride. Humming that tune is the quickest way to recognise the interval by ear.
TritoneTT
Half steps
6
From C
C – F♯
You can hear a tritone in The Simpsons theme. Humming that tune is the quickest way to recognise the interval by ear.
Perfect fifthP5
Half steps
7
From C
C – G
You can hear a perfect fifth in the Star Wars main theme. Humming that tune is the quickest way to recognise the interval by ear.
Minor sixthm6
Half steps
8
From C
C – A♭
You can hear a minor sixth in The Entertainer. Humming that tune is the quickest way to recognise the interval by ear.
Major sixthM6
Half steps
9
From C
C – A
You can hear a major sixth in My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean. Humming that tune is the quickest way to recognise the interval by ear.
Minor seventhm7
Half steps
10
From C
C – B♭
You can hear a minor seventh in the original Star Trek theme. Humming that tune is the quickest way to recognise the interval by ear.
Major seventhM7
Half steps
11
From C
C – B
You can hear a major seventh in the chorus of Take On Me. Humming that tune is the quickest way to recognise the interval by ear.
OctaveP8
Half steps
12
From C
C – C
You can hear an octave in Somewhere Over the Rainbow. Humming that tune is the quickest way to recognise the interval by ear.