Discovering Intervals and Chords

Music is made up of relationships between notes. Intervals measure the distance between two notes, while chords are combinations of three or more notes played together.

Intervals

• Unison: Same note played twice.
• Second, third, fourth, etc.: Count the number of letter names from the first note to the second.
• Perfect, major, minor, augmented, diminished: These describe the quality of the interval.

Intervals are essential for building melodies and harmonies.

Chords

• Triads: Three-note chords (root, third, fifth), like C-E-G (C major).
• Seventh chords: Four-note chords (root, third, fifth, seventh), like C-E-G-B (Cmaj7).
• Chords can be major, minor, diminished, or augmented.

Building Harmony

Stacking intervals creates chords, which are the backbone of harmony in music.

Everyday Applications

Understanding intervals and chords helps you play along with songs, write harmonies, and analyze your favorite music!