What Are Intervals?

Watch a video to learn piano intervals

An interval is the distance between two notes. Here we will learn half-steps, seconds, minor thirds, major thirds, fourths, and perfect fifths. First we will define the smallest interval – the half-step.  The half-step is the closest distance between two notes. For example, the distance between C and C# is  one half-step. A few other examples are B and C, E and F, and Ab and A. The following table explains the rest of the intervals:

1. Pick a note and find each of the different intervals introduced starting from that note. Suppose  you pick a C, find a half-step from C, a major second from C, a minor third from C, etc.

2. Use either of the random note charts to practice your intervals. Pick a row and play the first note, then play its major second. Do this for each note in the row. Do this with different rows or columns as well as different intervals. Once again, the more creative you are with these charts, the more they will benefit you.