Counting intervals

Count the letters from the lower note to the upper one and name the interval from unison to octave.

Counting the letters

An interval's number says how many letter names it spans. Both outer notes count: from C to E is C, D, E, three letters, so it is a third.

Up from C4: unison, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, octave

1 is a unison (two identical notes), 2 a second, 3 a third, 4 a fourth, 5 a fifth, 6 a sixth, 7 a seventh, 8 an octave.

The two notes can be played one after the other, a melodic interval, or together, a harmonic interval.

Practice: Which interval?

Practice: Up from C

Practice: Build the interval

Reading an interval's shape on the staff

You can tell an interval without naming its notes. If both notes sit on lines with one line between them (or in spaces with one space between), it is a third. Odd intervals (thirds, fifths, sevenths) are line–line or space–space. Even ones (seconds, fourths, sixths, octaves) are line–space.

A third, a fifth and another fifth: both notes on lines

The number of an interval does not depend on accidentals: C to E, E♭ or E♯ is still a third. Accidentals change only its size, which is the next lesson.

Practice: By its shape