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Music vocabulary · Music Theory and Harmony

Interval

Meaning in music, with examples

/ˈɪntərvəl/nounCore term

In music, interval means: The distance in pitch between two notes, named by counting letter names and checking the number of semitones, such as a major third or a perfect fifth.

In Turkish: aralık

How it is used

A core topic in theory and ear training. You name, identify, hear or sing an interval. Common names: semitone (half step), tone (whole step), major and minor third, perfect fourth and fifth, octave.

Example sentences

  1. In the ear training exam, you have to identify ten intervals by ear.

  2. The interval between C and G is a perfect fifth.

Common collocations

  • identify an interval
  • major third
  • perfect fifth
  • interval training
  • wide interval
  • scaleA set of notes played in order of pitch, going up or down, that follows a fixed pattern of steps. Scales are the building blocks of melodies and chords.
  • octaveThe interval between one note and the next note with the same name, higher or lower. The higher note vibrates exactly twice as fast as the lower one.
  • triadA three-note chord built from a root note plus the notes a third and a fifth above it. The four types are major, minor, diminished and augmented.
  • harmonyThe sound of different notes heard together, and the way chords are built and connected. It also means a second vocal line sung above or below the melody.
  • pitchHow high or low a sound is. Pitch depends on the frequency of the sound wave: the faster the vibration, the higher the pitch.

More terms: Music Theory and Harmony

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