Transcript Benward Chapter 8

Chapter Eight
Intervals: Unison, Octave, and
Major and Minor Thirds
Interval Names
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Interval names consist of two parts: a general
name, such as second or third, and a qualifying
term, such as major, minor, or perfect, that
show the exact size and quality of sound of the
interval.
The general name is found by counting the
number of scale degrees on the staff between
the two tones, starting from the bottom note and
counting the top note as well.
Guide to General Interval
Names
Interval: Perfect Unison (P1)
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The smallest interval is formed by
repeating a tone or by sounding the tone
in two voices at the same time.
This interval contains no half steps.
Interval: Perfect Octave (P8)
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The interval formed by two notes with the
same letter name, eight scale degrees
apart, is the octave.
It contains twelve half steps.
Songs used to identify a
Perfect Octave
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Ascending: Do-Do, When You Wish Upon
a Star, Somewhere Over the Rainbow,
Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire, Let It
Snow, Delsasser, Bluebossa
Descending: Do-Do, Willow Weeps for Me
Perfect Intervals
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Perfect intervals have such a close
relationship between the two component
tones that neither can be raised or
lowered without producing a completely
new quality of sound.
Intervals that have only one normal size
are perfect intervals.
Songs Used to identify a Major
Third
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Ascending: Do-Mi, Oh When the Saints, I Can’t
Get Started, While Shepherds Watched, From
the Halls of Montezuma, Well I come from
Alabama
Descending: Mi-Do, Summertime, Giant Steps,
Come Rain or Come Shine, Bessie’s Blues, Big
Ben, Swing Low Sweet Chariot, Good Night
Major and Minor Thirds
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Thirds are intervals that include three degrees of
a scale. If the bottom note of a third is on a line,
the top note will be on the next line; if the lower
note is in a space, the upper note will be in the
next space.
Major third (M3) contains four half steps.
Minor third (m3) contains three half steps
Songs Used to identify a minor
Third
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Ascending: re-fa, O Where Has My Little Dog Gone,
Brahm’s Lullaby, Greensleeves, Georgia On My Mind, The
Impossible Dream, Somewhere My Love, Moontrane, A
Foggy Day, Confirmation, Work Song, So Long Farewell
(from Sound of Music), O Canada
Descending: do-la, Frosty the Snowman, What Is This
Thing Called Love, 500 Miles High, Misty, Hey Jude,
Peter Gunn, Jesus Loves Me, Star Spangled Banner, This
Old Man, “Ricola” commercial
Dissonance and Consonance
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In playing all the intervals as harmonic intervals,
you will notice a striking difference in the
amount of tension in the sound. Intervals such
as seconds, which have a harsh, restless quality,
are called dissonances.
Smooth-sounding intervals such as thirds and
octaves are called consonances.
The smoothest and most closely related
intervals, the octave, fourth, fifth, and unison,
are called perfect consonances.