Spelling Intervals

If you have mastered the first three steps in this course, which give you the Cycle of Thirds as a musical

interval calculator, you are ready to learn how to spell intervals. Now that you have a musical interval

calculator in your head, learning to spell the intervals will be easy. Your goal is to be able to spell intervals

with as much ease as you can count with numbers. If you do this, your ability to work with pitch differences

in music theory and composition will be greatly improved. We will start with Perfect Primes and 2nds. You

do not need a musical interval calculator to spell Primes and 2nds. It is easy to simply count half steps.

How to Find Perfect Primes and 2nds

You already know how to find the interval of a Major or minor 3rd above or below any note. In the following

lessons you will learn to do the same with other intervals. In this lesson we learn about Perfect Primes, the

intervals of a Major and minor 2nd and how to know what note is that distance above or below any given

note.

Perfect Primes

You know that an interval is a measure of the distance in pitch between two notes. The Perfect Prime (also

called a Unison) is an interval name for two notes that are the same pitch. This means that a Perfect Prime

has no distance in pitch. There are no Perfect Primes that are “above” or “below” your starting note. The

Perfect Prime is always the exact same pitch and therefore the same note name. A Perfect Prime for C is C.

A Perfect Prime for Gb is Gb, and so on.

What is an interval of a 2nd?

A 2nd interval is always one letter name away from your starting note. If A is the 1st, then B is the 2nd. B is

just one letter name away from A. Just like 3rds, there is a Major 2nd and a minor 2nd. A Major 2nd has two

half steps. A minor 2nd has one half step.

How to Find Major and Minor 2nds Above or Below Any Note

Because Major and minor 2nds are so few half steps away from a note, it is easy to find them. Just remember

that the letter name of a major or minor 2nd will always be one letter name away from your starting note.

For a Major 2nd above, just go one letter name above the starting note and adjust the answer (if needed) to

make sure it is two half steps away from your starting note. In the illustration above, the next letter name is

B. B is also two half steps away from A, so B is a Major 2nd above A.

For a minor 2nd above, just go to the next letter name above the starting note and adjust the answer (if

needed) to make sure it is one half step away from your starting note. In the illustration above, the next

letter named note is B, you must drop it to Bb to make it one half step (minor 2nd) above A.

If you were starting on B, the next letter name above B is C. But B and C have no black key between them

(see illustration below), so C is a minor 2nd with only one half step above B. Raise C by one half step to C#

to get the Major 2nd, with two half steps, above B.

Major and minor 2nds below work in the same way. Just move in the opposite direction. If you are starting

on C, then B is a minor 2nd (one half step) below C. Bb is a Major 2nd (with two half steps) below C.

If you remember a minor 2nd is always one half step above or below your starting note and a Major 2nd is

always two half steps above or below your starting note, then you can find them without much effort. You

just need to be able to count notes chromatically. This means that you know the order of all the notes as

they appear on the piano keyboard.

The Chromatic Scale

A A#/Bb B C C#/Db D D#/Eb E F F#/Gb G G#/Ab A

A Chromatic scale is one that includes all the pitches in a specified range. Look at the illustration below. If

you start with A on the left and count keys to the right, including all the white and black keys, you get a

chromatic scale. If you are unfamiliar with the basic order of notes, you should memorize the chromatic

scale. Remember that all adjacent notes on the keyboard have a sharp or flat (black key) between them,

except between B to C and E to F. You must memorize the chromatic scale.

The Chromatic Order of Notes on the Piano Keyboard

Exercise: Cover the illustration above. Name the note that is a minor 2nd above the given note. Remember that “above”

is to the right on the piano keyboard. The letter name must be the next letter name above the given note.

Example: The minor 2nd above A should be called Bb not A#. Because numerically A is 1st and B is 2nd. This

holds true even if you need to use a double flat or double sharp. Use the interval charts on the answer charts

page to check your answers.

1. A _________

2. Eb _________

3. B _________

4. F _________

5. C# _________

6. D _________

7. Gb _________

8. A# _________

9. Db _________

10. B# _________

11. C _________

12. G _________

Exercise:

Fill in the blank with the minor 2nd below the given note. Remember that “below” is to the left on the piano

keyboard (see above). Use the interval charts on the answer charts page to check your answers.

1. _________ A

2. _________ Eb

3. _________ B

4. _________ F

5. _________ C#

6. _________ D

7. _________ Gb

8. _________ A#

9. _________ Db

10. _________ Bb

11. _________ C

12. _________ G

Exercise:

For each blank, write the note that is a Major 2nd above the given note. Use the interval charts on the answer

charts page to check your answers.

1. A _________

2. Eb _________

3. B _________

4. F _________

5. C# _________

6. D _________

7. Gb _________

8. A# _________

9. Db _________

10. B# _________

11. C _________

12. G _________

Exercis:

For each blank, write the note that is a Major 2nd below the given note.

1. _________ A

2. _________ Eb

3. _________ B

4. _________ F

5. _________ C#

6. _________ D

7. _________ Gb

8. _________ A#

9. _________ Db

10. _________ Bb

11. _________ C

12. _________ G

Daily and Weekly Practice

Your daily practice consists of reciting the Cycle of Thirds forward and backward for at least two minutes

a day. Your weekly practice is at least five minutes a week spelling chords. Five minutes a week may not

seem like much, but after a few months of spelling chords with this method, you will have ingrained the

process into your brain for long term storage. Just make sure you spell at least one chord for each chord

type with a randomly chosen root. In addition to chords, for each interval you learn to find, now begin to

spend at least five minutes a week practicing finding notes that are a specified interval above or below

random notes. So far you know how to construct primes, 2nds and 3rds. You must remember to also practice

3rds below a note. Use the charts in the appendix to check your answers when you drill on creating these

intervals.

For Major 3rds, minor 3rds and Major 2nds, your best practice is to recite a series of ascending intervals. Pick

one of the three intervals above or below, pick a random root note and keep adding that interval to your

answer. For example, if you chose a Major 3rd above C, a Major 3rd above C is E, above E is G#, above G

is B#, then D##, etc. When you hit a triple sharp or triple flat, pick a new interval and start again.

For minor 2nds, do not practice a series, but pick a new random root each time. 2nds quickly run into triple

sharps and flats.

The above are the recommended minimums. You are encouraged to do more. Practice as much as it takes

to make all of the skills taught in this course as quick and easy for you to use as possible. If you are interested

in spending a significant amount of time in your future with the study of music theory, you will not regret

the time you put into mastering this course. Spelling intervals, chords and scales are basic skills you want

to develop as much and as early as possible in your musical studies. The full advantage of The Music Theory

AdvantageTM is not fully realized until the skills taught in this course are second nature to you.

How to Find Perfect 4ths NEXT=>>

An interval of a Perfect 4th is five half steps above or below the starting note.

From A to D is an interval of a Perfect 4th

How to Find Perfect 4ths Above and Below any Note.

You remember how to find a Perfect 5th above or below a note. Just count two steps forward (above) or

backward (below) in the Cycle of Thirds. To find Perfect 4ths above or below a note just do the opposite.

A Perfect 5th above is two steps forward, therefore a Perfect 4th above is two steps backward.

A Perfect 5th below is two steps backward, therefore a Perfect 4th below is two steps forward.

If you want to see the structure behind why Perfect 4ths are found in the opposite direction as Perfect 5ths,

study the illustration below.

The Principle of Inversion

When the same note name that is a Perfect 5th above a note is also a Perfect 4th below the same note (such

as the E’s above and below A in the preceding illustration), this is known as the principle of inversion. The

interval of A up to E becomes inverted when you keep the same A but refer to the E below it (E up to A).

Perfect 5ths invert to Perfect 4ths. This is why you count in the opposite direction of the Perfect 5th to find

the Perfect 4th. Because the cycle is in thirds, the note that is a perfect 4th above will be two steps backward,

not forward. And a note that is a Perfect 4th below will be two steps forward. For example, if you look at

the image above, two steps backward from A (counting in thirds) is F, then D. D is shown as a P4 above A.

Finding Perfect 4ths

Focus on mastering finding Perfect 5ths first. Then just count in the opposite direction for 4ths. To find a

Perfect 4th above D, remember that a Perfect 5th above is two steps forward in the Cycle of Thirds, then just

count in the opposite direction (backward) two steps in the cycle to G. G is a Perfect 4 th above D. A Perfect

4th above E is two steps backward to A.

To find a Perfect 4th below D, remember that a Perfect 5th below is two steps backward in the Cycle of

Thirds, then count in the opposite direction (forward) two steps. A is a Perfect 4 th below D. A Perfect 4th

below E is two steps forward in the Cycle of Thirds to B.

Remember that the bunny (B) is looking up to the fly (F), so when moving from B to F you must raise F

one half step to F#. Also, the fly (F) is looking down at the bunny (B). This means that when moving from

F to B you must lower B by one half step to Bb.

From B to F From F to B

Raise F 1/2 Step Lower B 1/2 Step

B# to F## F## to B#

B to F# F# to B

Bb to F F to Bb

Bbb to Fb Fb to Bbb

Notice that when finding either Perfect 5ths or Perfect 4ths, you must always raise F and lower B. It works

the same for both Perfect 5 ths and Perfect 4 ths.

Summary for Finding Perfect 4ths

First master finding Perfect 5ths above or below a note. To find Perfect 4ths just count two steps in the

opposite direction. Remember that the signs match. If a Perfect 4th below G is D, then a perfect 4th below

G# is D# and so on.

Exercise:

Fill in the blanks with the note that is a Perfect 4th above the given note. Remember to count two steps

backward in the Cycle of Thirds. Also, remember F to B (lower B one half step). Use the interval Answer

Charts to check your answers.

1. A _________

2. Eb _________

3. B _________

4. F _________

5. C# _________

6. D _________

7. Gb _________

8. A# _________

9. E _________

10. Bb _________

11. F# _________

12. C _________

13. G _________

14. D# _________

15. Ab _________

16. E# _________

17. B# _________

18. Fb _________

19. Cb _________

20. G# _________

Exercise:

Fill in the blanks with the note that is a Perfect 4th below the given note. Remember to count two steps

forwards in the Cycle of Thirds. Also, remember B to F (raise F one half step). Use the interval Answer

Charts to check your answers.

1. _________ A

2. _________ Eb

3. _________ B

4. _________ F

5. _________ C#

6. _________ D

7. _________ Gb

8. _________ A#

9. _________ E

10. _________ Bb

11. _________ F#

12. _________ C

13. _________ G

14. _________ D#

15. _________ Ab

16. _________ E#

17. _________ B#

18. _________ Fb

19. _________ Cb

20. _________ G#

Do not proceed past this point without making sure you can find intervals for 2nds, 4ths and 5ths. Practice until

it is quick and easy to find a Major or minor 2nd, Perfect 4th or a Perfect 5th above or below any given note.

If you want to study music, you will not regret being able to spell intervals like a pro. If you give your due

diligence to this course, you will be very pleased with the results.

Practice drilling until you can quickly construct these intervals for any given note. The answer charts page

has interval charts with answers for intervals above or below all notes and also list a page with

WolframAlpha practice widgets. Use those charts to check you answers when drilling. To drill, just

randomly pick a note, an interval (above or below) then name the note that is the chosen interval above or

below the note you picked and check your answer with the charts or spell your interval into the widget then

click submit to verify your answer.

IMPORTANT

To Practice: The best way to practice the intervals you know so far is to randomly pick a root note and an

interval above or below that note (Major 2nd, Major or minor 3rd, Perfect 5th or Perfect 4th). Then name a

series of ascending intervals as quickly as you can. For example, if you picked Major 2nd above A, then

name a series of major 2nds above A starting with B. Then above B is C#. Above C# is D# then E#, F##,

G## and you are back to A. If you hit triple sharps or flats, you can pick a new starting note and do the

same interval again, or just pick a whole new interval and root to do the exercise again. Use the interval

answer charts for intervals above and below a note to check your answers.

How to Find Major and Minor 6ths NEXT=>>

In this lesson, we will learn to find the notes that are Major and minor 6ths above or below any given note.

A note that is a Major 6th above another note is a distance of nine half steps away from the given note. That

is nine piano keys. A note that is a minor 6th above another note is a distance of eight half steps away from

the given note.

m6 = minor 6th M6 = Major 6th

m6 M6

The method for finding the note that is a Major or minor 6th above or below any given note is

straightforward. To find Major and minor 6ths, you will use the principle of inverted intervals, which was

introduced in the last lesson. Just as 5ths invert to 4ths, 6ths invert to 3rds. By now you should be very good at

finding 3rds, so finding 6ths will be easy.

As you know, every note name can be both above and below a particular given note. For example, E is a

minor 3rd below G. However, as shown in the illustration below, a different instance of E is also above G.

The E above is a different distance that is a Major 6ths above G.

minor 3rd Major 6th

When you keep the same starting note (such as G in the illustration above), but switch from the E above

(G to E) to the E below (E to G), or from the E below to the E above, you are said to be inverting the

interval.

Finding 6ths by Using the Principle of Inversion

The note name that is a 6th above a given note will also be some type of 3rd below the same given note. The

note name that is a 6th below a given note will always be the same note that is some type of 3rd above the

same given note. The modifier (Major, minor) changes when inverting an interval from a 6 th to a 3rd. If E is

a Major 6th above G, then E is also a minor 3rd below G. B is a minor 6th below G, so B is also a Major 3rd

above G. You MUST memorize the inversion chart below for 6ths to 3rds.

Inversion Chart for 6ths to 3rds

Major 6th above = minor 3rd below

minor 6th above = Major 3rd below

Major 6th below = minor 3rd above

minor 6th below = Major 3rd above

To find the note name that is a Major or minor 6th above or below a given note, just convert it to its inverted

form of Major or minor 3rd. The note name will be the same.

Examples:

What is a Major 6th above C? A Major 6th above C is the same note name as a minor 3rd below C. Just use

the Cycle of Thirds and you find that a minor 3rd below C is A. This means that A is also a Major 6th above

C.

What is a minor 6th below D? A minor 6th below D is the same note name as a Major 3rd above D. A Major

3rd above D is F#. So F# is also a minor 6th below D.

You must memorize the inversion chart above. You must be able to quickly name the correct 3rd that

matches the four varieties of 6ths. Then just find the corresponding 3rd to get the correct note name for the

6th you want to find.

Exercise:

Fill in the blanks with the note that is a Major 6th above the given note. Use the Interval Answer Charts to

check your answers.

(To find a Major 6th above, find the note that is a minor 3rd below)

1. A _________

2. Eb _________

3. B _________

4. F _________

5. C# _________

6. D _________

7. Gb _________

8. A# _________

9. E _________

10. Bb _________

11. F# _________

12. C _________

13. G _________

14. D# _________

15. Ab _________

16. E# _________

17. B# _________ 18. Fb _________ 19. Cb _________ 20. G# _________

Exercise:

Fill in the blanks with the note that is a Major 6th below the given note. Use the Interval Answer Charts to

check your answers.

(To find a Major 6th below, find the note that is a minor 3rd above)

1. _________ A

2. _________ Eb

3. _________ B

4. _________ F

5. _________ C#

6. _________ D

7. _________ Gb

8. _________ A#

9. _________ E

10. _________ Bb

11. _________ F#

12. _________ C

13. _________ G

14. _________ D#

15. _________ Ab

16. _________ E#

17. _________ B#

18. _________ Fb

19. _________ Cb

20. _________ G#

Exercise:

Fill in the blanks with the note that is a minor 6th above the given note. Use the Interval Answer Charts to

check your answers.

(To find the a minor 6th above, find the note that is a Major 3rd below)

1. A _________

2. Eb _________

3. B _________

4. F _________

5. C# _________

6. Db _________

7. Gb _________

8. A# _________

9. E _________

10. Bb _________

11. F# _________

12. C _________

13. G _________

14. D# _________

15. Ab _________

16. E# _________

17. B# _________

18. Fb _________

19. Cb _________

20. G# _________

Exercise:

Fill in the blanks with the note that is a minor 6th below the given note. Use the Interval Answer Charts to

check your answers.

(To find a minor 6th below, find the note that is a Major 3rd above)

1. _________ A

2. _________ Eb

3. _________ B

4. _________ F

5. _________ C#

6. _________ D

7. _________ Gb

8. _________ A#

9. _________ E

10. _________ Bb

11. _________ F#

12. _________ C

13. _________ G

14. _________ D#

15. _________ Ab

16. _________ E#

17. _________ B#

18. _________ Fb

19. _________ Cb

20. _________ G#