Fundamentals
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Music Theory


Major/minor Interval Group

Major and minor Intervals
Too Big/Too Small
Interval Review


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Major and minor Intervals

The Major/minor group of intervals is made up of the intervals with accidentals that change when switching between Major and minor scales, plus the interval of the second.

 

F Major Scale

F minor Scale
(natural)

Perfect Intervals

Major/minor Intervals

Prime, 4th, 5th, Octave

2nd, 3rd, 6th, 7th

You already know how to construct Major and minor seconds. Before, we simply called them different names:

diatonic half step = minor second
whole step = Major second

Is this a Major second (M2) or a minor second (m2)?

M2 m2

M2 m2

M2 m2


The rest of the Major/minor intervals are constructed by thinking of a Major or minor scale!

Ascending Intervals: Let's construct a minor 6th above G. First add a generic 6th above by clicking on the correct line or space. Then think of a G minor scale and choose the correct accidental!

Good work! Practice constructing some more Major and minor intervals above the given notes.

Remember: Seconds work differently than the other intervals!

Descending Intervals: To construct a descending interval in the Major/minor group first construct the generic interval, and then change the accidental of the bottom note until the top note is on the correct Major or minor scale.

Try constructing a minor 3rd below Db. First add a generic 3rd below by clicking on the correct line or space. Then adjust the accidental of the bottom note until the minor scale built off of it would contain Db.

Good work! Practice constructing some more Major and minor intervals below the given note:



 

 

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© 2006 Scott Perkins and Greg Ristow.