Interval Qualities

Interval Qualities

Major, Minor, Diminished, Augmented, and Perfect

Major, Minor, and Perfect Intervals

Interval qualities can be classified as major, minor, perfect, augmented, or diminished. Perfect intervals can only refer to the unison, 4th, 5th, and octave. These four notes (scale degrees 1, 4, and 5) remain the same between a major and natural minor scale.​

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They have been considered the purest intervals since around the 5^th century and cannot be considered major or minor. Therefore, a unison, 4^th, 5^th, and octave will either be perfect, augmented, or diminished.

Notice scale degrees 1, 4, and 5 stay the same between the parallel major and the parallel natural minor scales.

Multiple Select

Which of the following interval qualities can apply to a unison, 4th, 5th, or 8th?

• perfect

• augmented

• major

• diminished

• minor

Determining the Interval Quality

If you encounter an interval that is a unison, 4th, 5th, or octave, do the following:

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1) temporarily assume you are in the major key of the lower note

2) ask yourself if the higher note “fits” the major key

3) if so, it is perfect

4) if it has been raised by a half step, it is augmented

5) if it has been lowered by a half step, it is diminished

Writing the Name of an Interval

To write the name of a perfect interval, write a capital P followed by the distance.  For example, P5 means perfect 5th.​

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To write the name of an augmented interval, write a capital A followed by the distance. For example, A2 means augmented 2nd.​

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To write the name of a diminished interval, write a lower case d followed by the distance.  For example, d2 means diminished 2nd.  

Let's Try Together

Look at the notes on the right. B to F is a 5th. To determine the interval quality, pretend you are in the key of B major. B major has 5 #'s (F# C# G# D# A#). Does F "fit" the key of B major?​

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No! It should be F# in the key of B major. F is a half step lower than F#. That means it is a diminished interval. We would call it d5 (diminished fifth).

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Determining Other Interval Qualities

The rest of your intervals (2nd, 3rd, 6th, 7th) will be considered major, minor, augmented, or diminished.​

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If you encounter an interval that is a 2, 3, 6, or 7, do the following:

1) temporarily assume you are in the major key of the lower note

2) ask yourself if the higher note “fits” the major key

3) if yes, it is a major interval

4) if it is a half step lower, it is a minor interval

5) if it is a whole step lower, it is a diminished interval

6) if it is a half step higher, it is an augmented interval

Writing the Name of an Interval

To write the name of a major interval, write a capital M followed by the distance.  For example, M2 means major 2nd. ​

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To write the name of a minor interval, write a lower case m followed by the distance. To be clearer when handwriting, draw a line on top of the lower case m.  For example, m2 means minor 2nd. ​

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To write the name of an augmented interval, write a capital A followed by the distance. For example, A2 means augmented 2nd.​

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To write the name of a diminished interval, write a lower case d followed by the distance. For example, d2 means diminished 2nd.  

Let's Try it Together

Look at the notes on the right. E to C is a 6th. To determine the interval quality, pretend you are in the key of E major. E major has 4 #'s (F# C# G# D#). Does C "fit" the key of E major?​

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No! It should be C# in the key of E major. C is a half step lower than C#. That means it is a minor interval. We would call it m6 (minor sixth).

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