Tip:
Highlight text to annotate it
X
Hi folks, this is our first lesson on the channel.
Today we'll talk about intervals, a subject that is the basis
of many other complex subjects, that have many utilities.
Well, an interval is nothing more that the distance between two specific notes.
Considering any note as a root, we can build a map of intervals,
which will work to form chords, scales, and help on improvisation.
For example, the note C and the note A
have between them a major sixth interval
and the note D, with the note F, for example,
form a minor third interval.
Well, the intervals are the following:
Considering any note as root, in this case it will be the C,
the note D flat represents the minor second
The note C with the note D represents a major second.
The note C with E flat represents a minor third interval.
The note C with the note E represents a major third interval.
The C with the note F represents a perfect fourth interval.
The C with the note F sharp, or G flat,
represents a augmented fourth interval, or diminished fifth.
This interval has a special name,
it is called Tritone because, as the name says,
it forms an interval of three exact tones between the two notes,
the root and the augmented fourth, or diminished fifth.
Later we'll see something related to that.
The note C with the note G represents the perfect fifth interval,
which is the most stable interval that exists in any scale.
It is widely used in rock'n'roll, in the called power chords
where the stability made by these two intervals brings
the caracteristic sound of many songs we know.
The note C and the note A flat form a minor sixth
interval, or augmented fifth, depending on the context.
The note C with the note A, as I said before, form a major sixth interval.
The C with the B flat form another important interval,
the minor seventh interval.
And finally, the note C with the note B represents
a major seventh interval.
After that, we return to the C, where the process repeats.
The intervals are good tools to study, because they show
the specific functions of each note in a context.
For example, a minor chord is formed
by the intervals of root, in this case, the D,
a minor third interval, in this case, the F,
a perfect fifth, in the end, that, in this case, is the note A.
Together, they build the D minor.
If you want, you can add a seventh to the chord,
in this case, a minor seventh, which note is the C.
If we want, we can add a minor seventh interval to the chord,
forming a D minor seventh chord. With D, F, A and C.
It is possible to add any interval to any chord,
but the consonance isn't guaranteed.
For example, a chord of C major formed by the intervals of root,
major third and perfect fifth, in this case C, E and G, can have a major seventh
added to the chord, forming a chord of C major seventh in this case, a B.
However, if we add a major sixth interval,
to this chord, the result isn't so nice to hear.
Of course, depending on the context, it is possible to do that.
There is another two types of chords, besides the minor and major chords,
there are the augmented chords and the diminished chords.
In the case of diminished chords, the intervals used are
of root, minor third and diminished fifth.
Considering the unison as D,
the next notes are F, its minor third,
and A flat, its diminished fifth.
It's a very tense chord, but it can be used widely.
And the last natural chord is the augmented chord,
where the intervals that form it are the intervals of
root, major third and augmented fifth.
Considering the C as tonal centre, we'll have the C,
the major third, the E, and the augmented fifth, the G sharp.
Later, you'll see that is also possible to use intervals to make scales,
in the neck of the instrument.
As we'll see in future lessons, each scale has a sequence of intervals
between its notes. This causes certain sounds and sensations,
depending on the chords.
For example, a major seventh chord is a soft chord,
while a diminished chord has much more tension.
But, given a particular harmonic field, each chord can lead to another,
even if it is dissonant, because it belongs to that harmonic field.
Well, that's all for today.
In the next class, we'll talk about greek modes,
where we'll use a lot this concept of intervals.
See you there!