in my quest to play/master the piano.. i've just reached the subject intervals. from what i understand it's the distance from one note to another.. i know it has a deeper meaning but that's all i understand.. help.. tnxs..

Here's how it works:

(But, first, you must learn how to read music if you don't know how, otherwise, you cannot go any farther).

Let's say you start at "Middle C", and you want to find the interval from Middle C to the G above it.

It's how many "white keys" it takes to get there. You count the one you start at as "1".

Example:

C to G... (counting the white keys from C to G, going up.)
C-1
D-2
E-3
F-4
G-5

So, the interval from a C to a G is a 5th.

so basically it's just a counting? How can we use it in music?

correct me if i'm wrong, when it's a whole step it's a major right then when it's a half step it's a minor? so what about 4th, 5th, octave intervals (i've read the're 'perfect' no minor?)

^ Here's how it works:

A whole step is a SECOND. Every whole step adds a number. For the perfect chords, and all of that other stuff, try wikipedia.org. ;)

Then there's how you use it in scales.

Major Scales are formed through intervals. For Example, the C Major Scale (All white keys).

C-D-E-F-G-A-B-C
Whole-Whole-Half-Whole-Whole-Whole-Half

Same with Minor Scales. (A Minor Scale)

A-B-C-D-E-F-G-A
Whole-Half-Whole-Whole-Half-Whole-Whole

The formulas dealing with Whole Steps and Half Steps apply to ALL Major and Minor Scales ;) .

Simply put, just think "space between two notes". You don't actively "use" it the interval names so much as to just simply knowing what they are and be able to recognize them. It's all about being able to hear the notes...so intervals are just a tool for the listener.

**The wiki is always a good source to plunder as stated above....

The whole/half step major/minor thing....don't get that confused with major/minor scales.
-2 notes right next to each other is minor 2nd (m2)
-move the top note up a halfstep, you get a major 2nd (M2)
-up a half, you get m3
-up a half, you get M3...etc
**Note: you mentioned this before, but there is no major/minor for the perfect 4th, 5th, or 8ve intervals. Instead, they use augmented/diminished to mean raised a half/lowered a half
(i.e. a diminished 4th is the same as a major 3rd...it's just a technicality thing).

tnxs... i don't really know how to fully utilize the intervals but it's quite useful in the formation on chords :)

It's okay, don't think about it too much. It's like saying, "If I want to drive, I must study the physics of circular kinematics and tire-road friction effects..."

intervals are just there as a helper.

http://www.musictheory.net/index.html

You need pictures to help understand intervals. Check out this link.

It's okay, don't think about it too much. It's like saying, "If I want to drive, I must study the physics of circular kinematics and tire-road friction effects..."

intervals are just there as a helper.


hehehe.. tnxs.. i can relax a little now.. heheh..


@Al: tnxs for the link it's quite helpful

The "steps" you are talking about. They're called tones. "half-steps" are called semi-tones. Thought you ought to know that, since saying steps makes you sound like a beginner and you don't want that ;)

In the US it's more commonly step/half-step...elsewhere it's officially tone/semitone.

Wait until you learn how many types of scales there are, then intervals'll be pretty helpful.

But yer lucky. I didn't learn any theory at all until I was already 7 years into playing the piano. Gardegargar.

In the US it's more commonly step/half-step...elsewhere it's officially tone/semitone.

oh right...didn't know that. Still it sounds pretty kiddy to me. :\

Wait until you learn how many types of scales there are, then intervals'll be pretty helpful.

But yer lucky. I didn't learn any theory at all until I was already 7 years into playing the piano. Gardegargar.

How many are there? I know major, minor, pentatonic, pentatonic minor, harmonic minor, melodic minor, and chromatic. There are modes too, but that's a little different.

there's playing a third apart, sixth apart, tenth apart, broken chords, arpeggios and their inversions, etc.

How many are there? I know major, minor, pentatonic, pentatonic minor, harmonic minor, melodic minor, and chromatic. There are modes too, but that's a little different.

How could you forget the natural minor? :( *Consults text book* 'Kay, you're also missing Whole Tone Scale, Blues Scale and Octatonic. There might be more, 'coz I live in North America and we all know that everything does not revolve around us.
:bleh: