music theory for musicians and normal people by toby w.

rush

Diatonic Intervals an interval is

the distance in pitch
between two notes. smaller
œ
the most basic way which we
œ œœ œœ
intervals

b
identify different intervals is
by counting the steps between
the two notes.
& œ œ
larger
intervals
specifically, we
count scale degrees,
but the easiest way to do it is
to count lines and spaces
when counting
on the staff.
the lines and
spaces, we
7 can safely
6 when counting, ignore any
begin with the accidentals.
5
4 bottom note as
one and count this interval
3
2 until you reach is also a
the top note. seventh...
1
we’ll discuss
how it’s
this interval
different
is a seventh!
very soon!

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two notes on the distance from

the same line or that’s latin for a note to the next
and that’s latin
space is called “one sound”! closest note with
for “eight”!
a unison. the same letter name
is called an octave.

and when you swap the two notes

when we are talking about (move the lower note up by an octave
intervals we sometimes discuss so it becomes the higher note),

œœ
harmonic intervals and that is called inverting the interval.

œœ œ & œœ
melodic intervals.

THE RULE
& œ 2nd 7th

it’s helpful to remember 3rd 6th

harmonic melodic that seconds always invert 4th 5th
interval interval to sevenths, thirds to
sixths, and so forth... 5th 4th
a harmonic interval is simply
6th 3rd
two notes played simultaneously; the fact that each of
a melodic interval is one note 7th 2nd
these pairs add up to nine
played after the other. is known to theorists as
“the rule of nines.” OF NINES
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