Copyright © 2004-2005, Ricci Adams http://www.musictheory.net/ - -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 First Second Third Fourth Fifth Sixth Seventh Eighth Diminished Minor Perfect Major Augmented M2 M3 P4 A4 d5 P5 M6 A6 d7 m7 M7 P8

Specific intervals are measured both on the staff and in half steps on the keyboard. As you learned in the previous lesson, C to D and C to Db are both generic seconds. Specifically, however, C to D is one half step larger than C to Db. Let's learn a few specific intervals.

A major second is made up of two half steps. C to D is a major second since it is a generic second on the staff and two half steps on the keyboard. E to F# would be another example of a major second.

A major third is made up of four half steps. C to E is a major third. E to G# is also a major third.

A perfect fourth is made up of five half steps. C to F is a perfect fourth. F to Bb is also a perfect fourth.

A perfect fifth is made up of seven half steps. C to G is a perfect fifth. B to F# is also a perfect fifth.

A major sixth is made up of nine half steps. C to A is a major sixth. Eb to C is also a major sixth.

A major seventh is made up of eleven half steps. C to B is a major seventh. D to C# is also a major seventh.

Finally, a perfect eighth (or perfect octave) is made up of twelve half steps. C to high C is a perfect eighth.

In addition to major and perfect; minor, augmented, and diminished intervals exist. A diminished interval has one less half step than a perfect interval. Since C to G is a perfect fifth (7 half steps), C to Gb would be a diminished fifth (6 half steps). B to F is also a diminished fifth (since B to F# is a perfect fifth).

An augmented interval has one more half step than a perfect interval. Since C to F is a perfect fourth (5 half steps), C to F# would be an augmented fourth (6 half steps). F to B is also an augmented fourth (since F to Bb is a perfect fourth).

Major intervals can also be made augmented by adding a half step. For example, since C to A is a major sixth (9 half steps), C to A# is an augmented sixth (10 half steps). Db to B is also an augmented 6th (Since Db to Bb is a major sixth).

Subtracting a half step from a major interval does not make it diminished; instead, it becomes minor. For example, since C to B is a major seventh (11 half steps), C to Bb is a minor seventh (10 half steps). Only after subtracting another half step does it become diminished. Thus, C to Bbb would be our diminished seventh (9 half steps).

The above chart shows the number of half steps that each specific interval contains.