A Overview of the....

[dwest2419]

Hi guys back with another thread. This is an overview from the thread: "How to Memorize At Hearing Intervals"

I just wanted to say that those videos in the thread How to Memorize At Hearing Intervals helped me out a lot about intervals and when determining an interval by the number of semitones. It amazes me how some intervals work. I had played songs I could not remember the name of the song. I remember the lyrics. I think it was once sung some time ago by this guy named Ray Charles. It goes

America... America.... God shined his face on thee < I think that's how the song starts off.

But what intrigued me the most was the first interval starting with the word "America!" The song starts off with a major sixth interval. For in the key of C, take for instance the note "G" and if we would count up eight semitones, and yes black notes count on the piano, you get to the note "E". So when going up the piano or up the guitar fretboard G to E it is a major sixth interval, but when going down G to E is a minor third interval. Weird? "I know!"But the one thing I learned is that you can now figure out melodies in a song using intervals. You can figure out solos determining what intervals are played! And trust me - studying intervals does pay off! ^_^

The other thing I learned is that not to pay so much attention to the notes, but rather the semitones or the distance between the notes. For example, F - E Now count how many semitones apart is it when going down the piano or down the guitar fretboard - it's just one semitone apart from one another, but when counting up the piano or when counting up the guitar fretboard it is eleven semitones apart when going F - E. And that is where learning intervals leaves you stuck between a rock and a hard place! Which one is it? Is it eleven semitones or one semitone? It leaves you stuck guessing is it a major seventh interval or minor second interval. But yet nobody knows how to solve this mystery. I guess the way how it is written F - E can lead you into many avenues. Because you have to tell whether it is a Major 7th  interval or minor 2nd  interval. Or is it meant to be 11 semitones up or 1 semitone down. That is what I find confusing. But there has to be a way of clearing this type of mess up.

But here I did a complete outlook in the key of C. So please do correct me if I am wrong on this.

Interval Names ------------------------- Number of Semitones
Unison (Perfect)....................................... .........0
Minor 2nd.................................... ......................1
Major 2nd.................................... ......................2
Minor 3rd.................................... .......................3
Major 3rd.................................... .......................4
Perfect 4th.................................... .....................5
Augmented 4th or Diminished 5th......................6
Perfect 5th.................................... ......................7
Minor 6th.................................... .........................8
Major 6th.................................... .........................9
Minor 7th.................................... .........................10
Major 7th.................................... .........................11
Octave (Perfect)....................................... ............12

1st scale degree in the key of C - Mode called: "Ionian"

C - C = Unison
C - D = Major 2nd
C - E = Major 3rd
C - F = Perfect 4th
C - G = Perfect 5th
C - A = Major 6th
C - B = Major 7th
C - (C) = Octave

2nd scale degree in the key of C - Mode called: "Dorian"

D - D = Unison
D - E = Major 2nd
D - F = Minor 3rd
D - G = Perfect 4th
D - A = Perfect 5th
D - B = Major 6th
D - C = Minor 7th
D - (D) = Octave

3rd scale degree in the key of C - Mode called: "Phrygian"

E - E = Unison
E - F = Minor 2nd
E - G = Minor 3rd
E - A = Perfect 4th
E - B = Perfect 5th
E - C = Minor 6th (m6) interval
E - D = Minor 7th
E - (E) = Octave

4th scale degree in the key of C - Mode called: "Lydian"

F - F = Unison
F - G = Major 2nd
F - A = Major 3rd
F - B = Augmented or Diminished 5th
F - C = Perfect fifth
F - D = Major 6th
F - E = Major 7th
F - (F) = Octave

5th scale degree in the key of C - Mode called: "Mixolydian"

G - G = Unison
G - A = Major 2nd
G - B = Major 3rd
G - C = Perfect fourth
G - D = Perfect fifth
G - E = Major 6th
G - F = Minor 7th
G - (G) = Octave

6th scale degree in the key of C - Mode called: "Aeolian"

A - A = Unison
A - B = Major 2nd
A - C = Minor 3rd
A - D = Perfect 4th
A - E = Perfect fifth
A - F = Minor 6th
A - G = Minor 7th
A - (A) = Octave

7th scale degree in the key of C - Mode called: "Locrian"

B - B = Unison
B - C = Minor 2nd
B - D = Minor 3rd
B - E = Perfect 4th
B - F = Augmented 4th or Diminished 5th
B - G = Minor 6th
B - A = Minor 7th
B - (B) = Octave

[T-Block]

The semi-tone idea is ok to start off with, but in the long run, I believe the better way is to just learn the intervals. If you know the major scales, intervals should be a piece of cake.

For example, when I see C-E, I automatically see a major 3rd. If I had to see 4 semi-tones, I would drive myself crazy. The inverse of a major 3rd is a minor 6th. So, by learning all the major 3rds you should have simultaneously learned the minor 6ths. Cuts the learning time down quite a bit using this method.

In the end, whatever method helps you to learn best is fine.

[dwest2419]

I did not know that either. But thanks a lot! ^_^