All Intervals
Master recognition of all intervals, including the challenging tritone and less common intervals.
Complete Interval Reference
Now that you've mastered the basics, let's cover all intervals including the tritone and other less common intervals. Each has a unique character and sound.
| Interval | Semitones | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Perfect Unison | 0 | Same note |
| Minor 2nd | 1 | Very tense, dissonant |
| Major 2nd | 2 | Neutral, stepwise |
| Minor 3rd | 3 | Sad, melancholic |
| Major 3rd | 4 | Happy, bright |
| Perfect 4th | 5 | Stable, open |
| Tritone | 6 | Very tense, unstable, "devil's interval" |
| Perfect 5th | 7 | Most stable, consonant |
| Minor 6th | 8 | Wide, expressive |
| Major 6th | 9 | Warm, open |
| Minor 7th | 10 | Jazzy, bluesy |
| Major 7th | 11 | Tense, wants to resolve |
| Perfect Octave | 12 | Same note, different octave |
The Tritone
The tritone (augmented 4th or diminished 5th) is one of the most distinctive and challenging intervals to recognize. It's called the "devil's interval" because of its extreme dissonance.
- Sound: Very tense, unstable, creates strong dissonance
- Function: Creates maximum tension, wants to resolve
- Reference: "Maria" from West Side Story, "Black Sabbath" by Black Sabbath
- Recognition: It's the interval that sounds "wrong" or "unsettling"
Practice Exercises
Practice identifying all intervals, including the challenging tritone. Start with medium difficulty and work your way to hard as you improve.
💡 Practice Tip: Practice multiple questions to build your skills! After answering each question, click "Next Question" to continue. Your score and accuracy will be tracked as you practice.
Recognition Strategies
- Group by Character: Group intervals by their emotional quality (bright, dark, stable, tense) to help narrow down your choices.
- Size Comparison: Compare the interval to ones you know well. Is it larger or smaller than a perfect 5th? Than a major 3rd?
- Context Matters: In a musical context, intervals have functions. A tritone wants to resolve, a perfect 5th feels stable.
- Practice Regularly: Consistent practice with all intervals will help you develop quick recognition skills.