powersofterror
2004-02-08, 00:47
Now that you can sing let’s learn some intervals!
First of all, an interval is the distance from one note to another. Assuming you have a guitar in your hands, your open “A” is a 4th above your “E” string- 5 half steps, or 5 frets. The “D” string is a 4th above the “A” string; the “G” string is a 4th above the “D” string, and the high “E” string is a 4th above the “B” string. The “B” string is a Major 3rd above the “G” string. In the scale of C Major, there are 5 whole steps and 2 half steps. As a matter of fact, EVERY major mode has 5 whole steps and 2 half steps!
C Major: W-W-H-W-W-W-H
…with the half steps between E & F, and B & C
And of those half and whole steps, lies an interval. A whole step is a Major 2nd, and a half step is a minor 2nd. Take notice how I write those. Minor is always found with a lowercase “m,” and Major always has an uppercase “M.” So from now on, I will be using M2 and m2. Some intervals are perfect, which have a “P” in front. Those are P5, P4, P8 (octave), P1 (unison)
Here is a list of intervals in order:
Unison-m2-M2-m3-M3-p4-A4-p5-m6-M6-m7-M7-octave
If you don’t know, unison is like playing two “C”s together (the same note), and an octave is like playing two “C”s together, yet 8 notes apart-or 12 half steps. The high “E” string is 3 octaves above the low “E” string. Also, we now come across the terms diminished and Augmented. To make an interval diminished, lower the top note a half step, or raise the lower note a half step.
Ex.
The interval from C to G is a P5
The interval from C to Gb is a d5
The interval from C# to G is a d5
And to get an Augmented interval, raise the top note a half step, or lower the bottom note a half step.
Ex.
The interval from C to G# is an A5
The interval from Cb to G is an A5
These are the intervals of notes in the key of C:
C-D is a M2; 2 half steps
C-E is a M3; 4 half steps
C-F is a P4; 5 half steps
C-G is a P5; 7 half steps
C-A is a M6; 9 half steps
C-B is a M7; 11 half steps
C-C is a P8; 12 half steps
so no matter what scale you're in,...
a M2 is ALWAYS 2 half steps
a M3 is ALWAYS 4 half steps
a P4 is ALWAYS 5 half steps
a P5 is ALWAYS 7 half steps
a M6 is ALWAYS 9 half steps
a M7 is ALWAYS 11 half steps
a P8(octave) is ALWAYS 12 half steps
About how you guys thought of the 1st lesson as dealing with getting a perfect pitch; well, now, try playing a C on your guitar, and singing a P4 above it. That’s F if you’ve forgot. And hey, instead of singing “ahhhh,” or “laaaa,” or “duuuu,” or whatever, you can now sing it as “fa.”
A good way to help with singing intervals, is to remember a cool song you like and try to remember that interval. Well, for ex., in that marriage song, "Here comes the bride!," you can remember that the first interval of that is....A P4!! So when you need to sing a P4, remember that song, and try to recreate it out of your head, and through your mouth. Happy Birthday, I know everyone knows THAT song! the first two notes are in unison, and the very next note is a M2..."do do re do fa mi!"
First of all, an interval is the distance from one note to another. Assuming you have a guitar in your hands, your open “A” is a 4th above your “E” string- 5 half steps, or 5 frets. The “D” string is a 4th above the “A” string; the “G” string is a 4th above the “D” string, and the high “E” string is a 4th above the “B” string. The “B” string is a Major 3rd above the “G” string. In the scale of C Major, there are 5 whole steps and 2 half steps. As a matter of fact, EVERY major mode has 5 whole steps and 2 half steps!
C Major: W-W-H-W-W-W-H
…with the half steps between E & F, and B & C
And of those half and whole steps, lies an interval. A whole step is a Major 2nd, and a half step is a minor 2nd. Take notice how I write those. Minor is always found with a lowercase “m,” and Major always has an uppercase “M.” So from now on, I will be using M2 and m2. Some intervals are perfect, which have a “P” in front. Those are P5, P4, P8 (octave), P1 (unison)
Here is a list of intervals in order:
Unison-m2-M2-m3-M3-p4-A4-p5-m6-M6-m7-M7-octave
If you don’t know, unison is like playing two “C”s together (the same note), and an octave is like playing two “C”s together, yet 8 notes apart-or 12 half steps. The high “E” string is 3 octaves above the low “E” string. Also, we now come across the terms diminished and Augmented. To make an interval diminished, lower the top note a half step, or raise the lower note a half step.
Ex.
The interval from C to G is a P5
The interval from C to Gb is a d5
The interval from C# to G is a d5
And to get an Augmented interval, raise the top note a half step, or lower the bottom note a half step.
Ex.
The interval from C to G# is an A5
The interval from Cb to G is an A5
These are the intervals of notes in the key of C:
C-D is a M2; 2 half steps
C-E is a M3; 4 half steps
C-F is a P4; 5 half steps
C-G is a P5; 7 half steps
C-A is a M6; 9 half steps
C-B is a M7; 11 half steps
C-C is a P8; 12 half steps
so no matter what scale you're in,...
a M2 is ALWAYS 2 half steps
a M3 is ALWAYS 4 half steps
a P4 is ALWAYS 5 half steps
a P5 is ALWAYS 7 half steps
a M6 is ALWAYS 9 half steps
a M7 is ALWAYS 11 half steps
a P8(octave) is ALWAYS 12 half steps
About how you guys thought of the 1st lesson as dealing with getting a perfect pitch; well, now, try playing a C on your guitar, and singing a P4 above it. That’s F if you’ve forgot. And hey, instead of singing “ahhhh,” or “laaaa,” or “duuuu,” or whatever, you can now sing it as “fa.”
A good way to help with singing intervals, is to remember a cool song you like and try to remember that interval. Well, for ex., in that marriage song, "Here comes the bride!," you can remember that the first interval of that is....A P4!! So when you need to sing a P4, remember that song, and try to recreate it out of your head, and through your mouth. Happy Birthday, I know everyone knows THAT song! the first two notes are in unison, and the very next note is a M2..."do do re do fa mi!"