Intervals — Basic
An interval is simply the distance from one musical note to another. And before we worry about all the fancy names, we're going to make this ridiculously simple: start with the alphabet.
Intervals Start With Counting
When musicians say that two notes are a 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, and so on, the number comes from counting the musical letters between the two notes.
Here's the part that trips people up: you count the note you start on too.
Count the Alphabet
We aren't deciding whether these intervals are major, minor, perfect, augmented, or diminished yet. We're only finding the number.
A to B = 2nd
A to G = 7th
A to C♯ = 3rd
The Basic Interval Numbers
As the letters get farther apart, the interval number gets larger.
But What Kind of 3rd?
That's the next level. A to C♯ is not just “a 3rd” forever — eventually we'll identify exactly what kind of 3rd it is. But right now, if you can look at A and C♯ and recognize that the letters A–B–C make it a 3rd, you've learned what you need from this lesson.
Don't Touch the Piano Yet
Pick two musical letters and count from the first letter to the second. Try C to F, D to A, E to B, G to D, and B to F. Say the interval number out loud. The faster you can recognize the letter distance, the easier the next level will be.