Interval Size and Quality: AP Music Theory Study Guide
Introduction
Hello, future Mozarts and Beethovens! 🎵 Prepare to dive into the wondrous world of intervals, where distances between notes aren't covered by Uber, but by pitch. If you’ve ever wondered how music jumps from one note to another, this guide will have you interval-hopping like a pro in no time. 🎶
The Basics: What Even is an Interval?
In music, an interval refers to the pitch distance between two notes. But don't expect a GPS to help you here; we measure these distances using our ears and a bit of musical math. Intervals can be played harmonically (notes together like a romantic duet) or melodically (notes one after another like a musical conga line).
Naming and Understanding Intervals
Intervals have two main properties: size and quality. Size is the number of letter names spanned, and quality is the type (e.g., major, minor, etc.). Think of it as the difference between telling someone you have a "big" pizza and specifying that it's a "Hawaiian, extra cheese" pizza. 🍕
A “perfect fifth” means it’s a perfect interval and spans five scale steps. Since intervals can be smaller than an octave, you’ll mostly deal with seconds to sevenths. Anything bigger? Meet compound intervals, like that mythical creature “three octaves” (no one really talks about the 22nd).
Types of Intervals
- Perfect Intervals: 4th, 5th, and octave. They are so perfect they don’t need alterations. Think of them as the straight-A students of intervals.
- Major Intervals: 2nd, 3rd, 6th, and 7th. They are like the cheerleaders, bright and prominent.
- Minor Intervals: These are the same as major intervals but one half step smaller. If major intervals are the cheerleaders, minors are like their goth cousins.
- Augmented Intervals: One half step larger than perfect or major intervals. Think “major on steroids.”
- Diminished Intervals: One half step smaller than perfect or minor intervals. Like intervals on a diet.
Major and Minor Intervals: Making Sense with Scales
A major scale has all major intervals, except for the fourth, fifth, and octave, which are perfect. For instance, C to E is a major 3rd, and C to G is a perfect 5th. You don’t need to say “perfect 8th,” “octave” will do — save your breath for singing! 🎤
Take a major interval and make it one half step smaller to get a minor interval. So, C to Eb is a minor 3rd. Perfect intervals, however, cannot be made minor. You will never find a "minor 5th" in your music jungle.
Augmented and Diminished Intervals
While less common, augmented and diminished intervals add drama to your music. Augmenting an interval means adding a half step. For example, C to E# is an augmented 3rd. Diminishing is the opposite: take a half step away. So, C to E double flat is a diminished 3rd.
These are crucial in jazz and other complex styles. Understanding them is essential, so you won’t fall flat (pun intended 😉).
Listening to Intervals
Here’s where you can build your interval “muscle”:
- Perfect 5th: "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star"
- Minor 2nd: The “Jaws” theme 🎶
- Major 3rd: The opening of “When the Saints Go Marching In”
Interval Inversion: Turning the Musical Mirror
Inverting intervals can make them easier to understand. It's like flipping your pancake to cook both sides. The inversion of a perfect fifth is a perfect fourth. To invert, subtract the interval from nine and flip its quality (major becomes minor, perfect stays perfect). For instance, an interval of A5 becomes d4, and m6 becomes M3.
Intervals can be harmonic (played together) or melodic (played one after the other), so practice both ways to give your ears a workout!
Singing and Recognizing Intervals
The AP Music Theory exam will test your ability to recognize intervals by ear. You might hear a melody and need to jot it down or sight-sing a given melody from a score, starting from a marked pitch. Use the do-re-mi scale to help. Interim practice with familiar songs that use specific intervals can also be handy.
Consonant and Dissonant Intervals
Some intervals are pleasant (consonant), while others are tense (dissonant). It's like food: some pairs like peanut butter and jelly are universally loved, while others like pickles and ice cream are more... controversial.
Consonant Intervals:
- Octave
- Perfect 5th
- Major and minor 3rds
- Major and minor 6ths
Dissonant Intervals:
- Major and minor 2nds
- Tritone (diminished 5th/augmented 4th)
- Major and minor 7ths
The tritone is special; it sounds unstable and had a bad rep in medieval times as the "devil's interval." Today, it’s embraced for the spicy tension it brings!
Fun Fact: The Devil’s Interval
The tritone was so scandalous in medieval music it was accused of summoning dark forces. Today, it’s making a comeback, spicing up genres from jazz to rock. Black Sabbath's infamous riff in "Black Sabbath" is a prime example of tritone mischief. 😈
Wrap-Up
Intervals are the building blocks of music, guiding melody and harmony like the yellow brick road led Dorothy. 🎶 Understanding them will not only help you on your AP exam but also make you a better musician. So, get strumming, plucking, bowing, or whistling those intervals out!
Remember, music is all about the journey from one note to another, and intervals are your roadmap. Happy interval hunting, and may your melodies be ever in your favor! 🎻
Key Terms to Review
Augmented Intervals, Chromaticism, Compound Intervals, Consonant Intervals, Diminished 5th Interval, Diminished 7th Chord, Diminished Intervals, Dissonant Intervals, Half Step, Harmonic Intervals, Interval Inversion, Major Scale, Melodic Intervals, Minor Scale, Part-Writing, Perfect Fifth, Perfect Intervals, Sight Singing, Solfège (Do-Re-Mi Scale), Voice Leading
