If you’ve ever wondered how melodies and harmonies come together in music, intervals are a great place to start. Simply put, an interval is the distance between two pitches or notes. This distance is measured in steps—either half steps or whole steps—and it forms the foundation of scales, chords, and ultimately, the music we hear. Let’s break down what intervals are and how they’re used to build scales.
What Are Intervals?
An interval describes the space between two notes, whether they’re played one after the other (melodically) or at the same time (harmonically). Intervals are named based on the number of letter names they span (like C to D is a second) and their quality (major, minor, perfect, etc.), which depends on the exact number of half steps. For example, a major third spans four half steps, while a minor third spans three. These measurements are crucial because they determine the emotional tone of the music—major intervals often sound brighter, while minor ones feel more somber.
How Intervals Build Scales
Scales are sequences of notes ordered by pitch, and they’re constructed using specific patterns of intervals. The most common scale, the major scale, follows a pattern of whole and half steps: whole, whole, half, whole, whole, whole, half. Take the C major scale as an example: starting on C, you move to D (whole step), E (whole step), F (half step), G (whole step), A (whole step), B (whole step), and back to C (half step). This pattern of intervals creates the familiar “do-re-mi” sound we associate with a major key.
Other scales, like the minor scale, use a different interval pattern: whole, half, whole, whole, half, whole, whole. This slight change in intervals gives the minor scale its distinct, often sadder or more mysterious vibe. By stacking intervals in specific ways, musicians can craft scales that evoke different moods and fit various musical styles.
Why Intervals Matter
Understanding intervals isn’t just theory—it’s practical. They’re the building blocks for composing melodies, creating harmonies, and even improvising. When a guitarist plays a solo or a singer harmonizes, they’re intuitively using intervals to choose notes that fit the scale. Intervals also help musicians transpose songs to different keys by maintaining the same distance between notes, even if the starting pitch changes.
In short, intervals are the invisible glue in music. They define the structure of scales, which in turn shape the songs we love. Whether you’re a beginner learning your first scale or just curious about how music works, recognizing intervals is a key step to unlocking the language of sound.
