music intervals

Identify the interval.

• Unison

• Major Second

• Minor Second

• Minor Third

Answer explanation

In the key of C, D has no sharps or flats, as shown. So this is a major interval.

Identify the interval.

• Minor Sixth

• Major Seventh

• Diminished Seventh

• Minor Seventh

Answer explanation

In the key of C, the major seventh would be B. B-flat would be a minor seventh. B-double flat is a diminished seventh (2 half steps below B).

Name the interval.

• Perfect Fourth

• Augmented Fourth

• Diminished Fourth

• Tritone

Answer explanation

In the key of G, a perfect fourth would be C. Since C is sharped, it becomes an augmented fourth. Another term for augmented fourths (or diminished fifths) is "tritone."

Name the Interval.

• Minor Sixth

• Perfect Fifth

• Diminished Fifth

• Major Sixth

Answer explanation

In the key of E, C is sharped. (E has 4 sharps: F#, C#, G#, and D#). That means that the major sixth would be C#. Since C is not sharped here, that means the interval is a half step smaller: it's a minor sixth.

What note is a minor seventh above this note?

• B

• C

• C#

• Cb

Answer explanation

We can begin by answering the question, "What's the major seventh?" In the key of D, C is sharped, so a major seventh would be C#. Since we want the minor seventh, we simply take away the sharp: a minor seventh above D is simply C.

What note is a perfect octave above this note?

• D

• E

• F#

• G

Answer explanation

G is a perfect octave above G. (Notes that are an octave apart always have the same letter name).

Name the interval.

• Perfect Fourth

• Augmented Fourth

• Perfect Fifth

• Perfect Sixth

Answer explanation

In the key of A, E has no sharps or flats. Therefore, we're looking at a perfect fifth.

This is a perfect fourth. What accidental needs to be added to the top note to make it a diminished fourth?

• Sharp

• Flat

• Double Sharp

• Double Flat

Answer explanation

We know that G to C is a perfect fourth (C has no sharps or flats in the key of G). To make the perfect interval diminished, we add a flat to the top note, decreasing the size of the interval by a half step.

Which of these thirds is minor?

• 
• 
• 
• 

Answer explanation

F to A is major (no sharps or flats on A in the key of F).

F flat to A flat is also major. (We don't have a key of F flat, but since both notes are flatted, the interval is the same as F to A).

F to A double flat is diminished (two half steps below major).

Only F# to A can be minor. In the key of F#, we would see an A# for the major third. So A without a sharp must be a minor third.

This is a major sixth. What does the top note need to be in order for this interval to be a diminished sixth?

• Cx

• C♮

• Cb

• Cbb

Answer explanation

C# is in the key of E, so the sixth as pictured is major. To make it minor, we would take away the sharp (C). To make it diminished, we need to go an additional half step lower (C flat).