🎵Intro to Musicianship Unit 5 – Intervals and Chords: Building Blocks of Music

Key Concepts

• Intervals form the basis of harmony in Western music
• An interval measures the distance between two pitches
• Intervals can be melodic (played sequentially) or harmonic (played simultaneously)
• Chords are built by stacking intervals, typically thirds, on top of a root note
• Triads, the most basic type of chord, consist of a root, third, and fifth
• Chord inversions rearrange the order of notes in a chord without changing its essential quality
• Ear training exercises help develop the ability to identify intervals and chords by sound
• Understanding intervals and chords is crucial for composing, arranging, and analyzing music

Intervals: The Foundation

• An interval is the distance between two pitches, measured by the number of half steps or semitones
• Intervals can be described as either melodic (notes played sequentially) or harmonic (notes played simultaneously)
• The smallest interval in Western music is a half step or semitone
• A whole step or whole tone consists of two half steps
• Intervals are named according to their size and quality
  • Size is determined by the number of letter names the interval encompasses (e.g., C to D is a second, C to E is a third)
  • Quality refers to whether the interval is perfect, major, minor, augmented, or diminished
• The most common intervals in Western music are perfect unisons, perfect octaves, perfect fifths, and perfect fourths
• Major and minor thirds and sixths are also frequently used in chord construction

Types of Intervals

• Perfect intervals (unison, fourth, fifth, octave) have a unique sound and are neither major nor minor
• Major intervals (second, third, sixth, seventh) have a bright, stable sound
• Minor intervals (second, third, sixth, seventh) have a darker, more somber sound compared to their major counterparts
• Augmented intervals are one half step larger than their corresponding major or perfect interval
  • An augmented fifth (C to G#) is sometimes called a tritone due to its dissonant sound
• Diminished intervals are one half step smaller than their corresponding minor or perfect interval
• Enharmonic equivalents are intervals that sound the same but have different names (e.g., augmented second and minor third)
• Compound intervals are larger than an octave and can be reduced to their simple interval equivalents (e.g., a ninth is a compound second)

Constructing Basic Chords

• Chords are formed by stacking intervals, typically thirds, on top of a root note
• The most basic type of chord is a triad, which consists of a root, third, and fifth
• To build a triad, start with a root note and add the third and fifth above it
  • For example, a C major triad contains the notes C (root), E (third), and G (fifth)
• The quality of the third (major or minor) determines the overall quality of the triad
• Seventh chords are created by adding another third on top of a triad
  • A C major seventh chord contains the notes C (root), E (third), G (fifth), and B (seventh)
• Chords can be built on any note of the chromatic scale, using the appropriate intervals to determine their quality

Major and Minor Triads

• Major triads have a bright, happy sound and consist of a root, major third, and perfect fifth
• Minor triads have a darker, more somber sound and consist of a root, minor third, and perfect fifth
• The difference between major and minor triads lies in the quality of the third (major or minor)
• In a major key, triads built on the I, IV, and V scale degrees are major
  • In the key of C major, these would be the chords C major, F major, and G major
• In a minor key, triads built on the i, iv, and v scale degrees are minor
  • In the key of A minor, these would be the chords A minor, D minor, and E minor
• The relative minor of a major key has the same key signature but starts on the sixth scale degree
  • A minor is the relative minor of C major, as they share the same key signature (no sharps or flats)

Chord Inversions

• Chord inversions rearrange the order of notes in a chord without changing its essential quality
• The root position of a chord has the root note in the bass (lowest voice)
• The first inversion of a chord has the third in the bass
  • A C major triad in first inversion would be E (bass), G, and C
• The second inversion of a chord has the fifth in the bass
  • A C major triad in second inversion would be G (bass), C, and E
• Inversions can be used to create smoother bass lines and voice leading in chord progressions
• Inverted chords are often labeled with figured bass notation, which indicates the intervals above the bass note
  • A first inversion triad is labeled with a "6," while a second inversion triad is labeled with a "64"

Ear Training Exercises

• Interval recognition exercises help develop the ability to identify intervals by sound
  • Start by learning to recognize perfect intervals (unison, octave, fifth, fourth) and then move on to major and minor intervals
• Chord recognition exercises involve identifying the quality of chords (major, minor, diminished, augmented)
• Melodic dictation exercises require notating a played melody, focusing on interval relationships between notes
• Harmonic dictation exercises involve notating the chords in a played progression
• Sight-singing exercises help internalize intervals and improve pitch accuracy
  • Practice singing intervals, scales, and simple melodies to develop a strong sense of relative pitch
• Regular ear training practice is essential for developing musical skills and enhancing overall musicianship

Practical Applications in Music

• Intervals and chords form the foundation of harmony in Western music
• Composers use their knowledge of intervals and chords to create melodies and harmonies that evoke specific emotions or moods
• Songwriters often use common chord progressions (e.g., I-IV-V-I) as a starting point for crafting memorable songs
• Arrangers and orchestrators use their understanding of intervals and chords to create rich, layered textures in their compositions
• Improvising musicians rely on their knowledge of intervals and chord structures to create compelling solos and melodic lines
• Music theorists and analysts use interval and chord analysis to gain a deeper understanding of a piece's structure and composition
• Educators teach intervals and chords as fundamental concepts in music theory and ear training courses
• Developing a strong grasp of intervals and chords is crucial for any musician looking to improve their skills and understanding of music