MUSC 101 Music Fundamentals - Spring 2012

[Overview] [Syllabus]

Unit 12 - Intervals 2

Interval Inversions

You invert an interval when you flip the interval upside down. The inversion can be formed in two ways:

1. keep the top note the same and raise the lower note by one octave
2. keep the bottom note the same and lower the top note by an octave

interval Inversions obey these rules:

1. The sum of the sizes of the two intervals is 9.

• unisons invert to octaves
• seconds invert to sevenths
• thirds invert to sixths
• fourths invert to fifths
• fifths invert to fourths
• sixths invert to thirds
• sevenths invert to seconds
• octaves invert to unisons

2. The qualities of the interval and its inversion follow these rules:

• perfect inverts to perfect
• major inverts to minor
• minor inverts to major
• diminished inverts to augmented
• augmented inverts to diminished
• doubly diminished inverts to doubly augmented
• doubly augmented inverts to doubly diminished

Intervals in Scales

Major

In the major scale, all intervals ascending from the tonic are perfect or major.



All intervals descending from the tonic are perfect or minor.

Natural Minor

In the natural minor scale, all ascending intervals from the tonic are perfect or minor, except for the major second between the tonic and supertonic..



All intervals descending from the tonic are perfect or major, except between the tonic and supertonic.

Harmonic Minor

In the harmonic minor scale, ascending intervals from the tonic follow this pattern. It's the same as natural minor except for the altered leading tone.



All intervals descending from the tonic follow this pattern. It's the same as natural minor except for the altered leading tone.

Melodic Minor

In the melodic minor scale, ascending intervals from the tonic follow this pattern. It's the same as natural minor except for the altered submediant and leading tone.



All intervals descending from the tonic follow this pattern. It's the same as natural minor.

Scale Degrees And Intervals

You should be able to answer questions like this:

Question

In C Harmonic minor what is the interval formed between the mediant up to the leading tone?

Answer

Augmented fifth.

[Overview] [Syllabus]

Revised by John Ellinger, Spring 2012.