Anyone Can Sing | Take A Minute To Sing Episode 8: Intervals

Intervals

An interval is the distance between notes. It is important to practice and understand intervals to aid in ear-training, sight-reading, and learning how to find a harmony to a melody.

It is also important because it is part of the musical language which helps you to communicate with other musicians. For example, when a musician says something like “can you sing that up a fourth?”, you’ll know what they are talking about.

The intervals in an octave (from “C” up 12 half steps to a higher “C”) are:

• Minor second (or half-step)
• Major second (or whole step)
• Minor third (or 3 half-steps)
• Major third (just keep adding half-steps)
• Perfect fourth (to explain why this is named differently would take too long for this exercise)
• Augmented fourth or diminished fifth
• Perfect fifth
• Minor sixth
• Major sixth
• Minor or dominant seventh
• Major seventh

A good exercise is to find songs you know and label the starting interval. For example,

• “My Bonnie” is a major sixth (or just a sixth)
• “Maria” from “West Side Story” is an augmented 4th
• “Bali Hai” from “South Pacific” is an octave going down to a major 7th
• “I Could Have Danced All Night” from “My Fair Lady” is an arpeggio made up of a major third, perfect fifth, and octave, and down to a major 7th.

Practice the exercise on the video with “Oo” and “Ee” vowels.

C Db C D C Eb C E C F C F# C G (then reversing starting on G).

Don’t forget to plan your breaths. As always, pay attention to your voice. If something hurts, quit and seek out the advice of a pro. And take a minute to sing EVERY DAY!