I’m trying to get through my music theory homework and I’m having some difficulty distinguishing between a minor interval and a diminished interval…
We only have two notes per chord (someone suggested looking at the third note… of which there are NONE) and they DO use flats and sharps.
So, 10 points to whomever can explain how to find a minor interval, a diminished interval, and how to tell the difference between the two in the simplest way.
Thanks in advance!
There are five types of intervals: Perfect (P), Major (M), Minor (m), Augmented (A), and Diminished (d). 5ths, 4ths, 8ths, and unisons are the Perfect intervals. When you increase a Major or Perfect interval by a half step you get an augmented interval. Ex: C to G is a P5 and a C to a G# is an A5.
A minor interval is created when you decrease a Major interval by a half step and only a Major interval. Ex: C to E is a M3 and C to Eb is a m3.
There are two ways to create a diminished interval:
1. By decreasing a Major interval by 1 full step. Ex: C# to A# is a M6 and C# to Ab is a d6.
or
2. By decreasing a Perfect interval by a half step. Ex: C to F is a P4 and C to Fb is a d4.
It can be a bit confusing at first but you should have no problem once you get it.
March 9th, 2010 at 1:05 pm
A "diminished" interval is always a half step lower than a minor or perfect interval. Thus, a diminished 7th is the same as a major 6th. A diminished fifth is the same as a tri-tone.
An "augmented" interval is always one half step higher than a major or perfect interval. An augmented 5th is the same as a minor 6th, and an augmented 4th is the same as a tri-tone.
All diminished and augmented intervals will be equal to another interval. The terms augmented or diminished are usually used when the interval is different from one would expect from the type of chord or the key.
See Rick’s theory website.
http://www.scroom.com/mus_lessons/tot.1.html
References :
Rick Bellinger: http://www.scroom.com/mus_lessons/tot.1.html
March 9th, 2010 at 1:24 pm
4ths and 5ths are perfect, semitone above is augmented, semitone below is diminished.
2nds, 3rds, 6ths and 7ths can be major or minor, semitone above major is augmented, semitone below minor is diminished.
C to F# is an augmented 4th; C to Gb is a diminished 5th, even though they are the same note.
C to Eb is a minor 3rd, C to Ebb is a diminished 3rd, C to D is a major 2nd, C to E is a major 3rd, C to E# is an augmented 3rd, and C to F is a perfect 4th.
References :
March 9th, 2010 at 1:56 pm
There are five types of intervals: Perfect (P), Major (M), Minor (m), Augmented (A), and Diminished (d). 5ths, 4ths, 8ths, and unisons are the Perfect intervals. When you increase a Major or Perfect interval by a half step you get an augmented interval. Ex: C to G is a P5 and a C to a G# is an A5.
A minor interval is created when you decrease a Major interval by a half step and only a Major interval. Ex: C to E is a M3 and C to Eb is a m3.
There are two ways to create a diminished interval:
1. By decreasing a Major interval by 1 full step. Ex: C# to A# is a M6 and C# to Ab is a d6.
or
2. By decreasing a Perfect interval by a half step. Ex: C to F is a P4 and C to Fb is a d4.
It can be a bit confusing at first but you should have no problem once you get it.
References :
I am a Music Theory and Composition major.