Musicianship Workshop - Q&A
Here is a music theory question from Adrienne.
Question:
* In chromatic scales, is the pattern of interval names always the same? For example in C the first half step from C is C# which is the minor second. In A, would the first half step to Bb also be the minor second? In B, would the first half step to C also be the minor second? In C the 5th half step is the perfect fourth - In E would the 5th half step to A also be the perfect fourth?
Answer:
Yes. However, remember that C sharp is also D flat. So, a half step (minor second) above C is C sharp/ D flat (they are the same note).
Five half steps is a perfect fourth. On the guitar, five frets (five half steps) higher from any note is the Perfect fourth. Works every time!
Question:
* Why is the minor second in C called C# without also listing Db, and the minor third called Eb without also listing D#? I notice that F# and Gb are both listed, and there are two names for those intervals. So is it just a convention that we call the minor second in C C#? Do we always call the half step from C C# and never Db in all chromatic scales?
Answer:
Another great question! I think the best way to think of this is by how they sound. If you go from C to C# (which is also a Db), you will hear the sound of a minor second. So, it really doesn't matter if you call it C# or Db. However, there are certain protocols in music. Typically when you refer to the interval of a second, you will be referring to the second note after the starting note. For example, the second note from C is D, so C to Db is a minor second, and C to D is a Major Second. The third note from C is E, so C to Eb is the minor third, and C to E is the Major Third.
So , I would say whether you say C up to Eb or C up to D#, it will sound like a minor third, but when notating it in music, it would be best to notate the Eb above the C. Get it?
Question:
* In chromatic scales, is the pattern of interval names always the same? For example in C the first half step from C is C# which is the minor second. In A, would the first half step to Bb also be the minor second? In B, would the first half step to C also be the minor second? In C the 5th half step is the perfect fourth - In E would the 5th half step to A also be the perfect fourth?
Answer:
Yes. However, remember that C sharp is also D flat. So, a half step (minor second) above C is C sharp/ D flat (they are the same note).
Five half steps is a perfect fourth. On the guitar, five frets (five half steps) higher from any note is the Perfect fourth. Works every time!
Question:
* Why is the minor second in C called C# without also listing Db, and the minor third called Eb without also listing D#? I notice that F# and Gb are both listed, and there are two names for those intervals. So is it just a convention that we call the minor second in C C#? Do we always call the half step from C C# and never Db in all chromatic scales?
Answer:
Another great question! I think the best way to think of this is by how they sound. If you go from C to C# (which is also a Db), you will hear the sound of a minor second. So, it really doesn't matter if you call it C# or Db. However, there are certain protocols in music. Typically when you refer to the interval of a second, you will be referring to the second note after the starting note. For example, the second note from C is D, so C to Db is a minor second, and C to D is a Major Second. The third note from C is E, so C to Eb is the minor third, and C to E is the Major Third.
So , I would say whether you say C up to Eb or C up to D#, it will sound like a minor third, but when notating it in music, it would be best to notate the Eb above the C. Get it?
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