NotePlayMusicIdentifying Intervals Practice
Work out the interval between two written notes, ported from ABRSM Grade 1 style practice questions.
Count an interval inclusively by letter names
An interval number measures how many letter-name positions the two notes span. Start with the lower note as one, then count up through each letter to the upper note. You do not need to count semitones to answer these interval-number questions.
Two adjacent letter names make a 2nd; C to E spans C, D, E and is a 3rd. Two notes with the same letter in neighbouring octaves make an 8th, or octave.
How to work it out
- Read the lower and upper note names from the notation, then count the lower note as position one.
- Continue through the musical alphabet until you reach the upper note; the final count is the interval number.
Worked example
What number is the interval from D up to A?
Count D (1), E (2), F (3), G (4), A (5). The interval is a 5th.
Watch for this mistake
A sharp or flat can change the quality of an interval, but it does not change its letter-name number.
Learning objectives
- Count the interval number between two notes in C major.
Worksheet
Select the correct number of this interval. The key is C major.
Answer: ______________________
Select the correct number of this interval. The key is C major.
Answer: ______________________
Select the correct number of this interval. The key is C major.
Answer: ______________________
Select the correct number of this interval. The key is C major.
Answer: ______________________
Select the correct number of this interval. The key is C major.
Answer: ______________________
Answer Key
- 3rd — C up to E spans three letter names: C, D, E. That makes it a 3rd.
- 8th — C up to the next C spans eight scale degrees, so it is an 8th.
- 4th — C up to F spans four letter names: C, D, E, F. That makes it a 4th.
- 7th — C up to B spans seven letter names: C, D, E, F, G, A, B. That makes it a 7th.
- 5th — C up to G spans five letter names: C, D, E, F, G. That makes it a 5th.