Basics
Intervals: the distance between notes
How we measure the space from one note to another.
3 min read
An interval is simply the distance between two notes. We count it by stepping through the letter names, starting from the lower note as number one.
Counting from C
From C, count up the white keys. C to D is a 2nd (two letters). C to E is a 3rd. C to F is a 4th, C to G is a 5th — and all the way back to the next C is an octave (eight letters).
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ZC3
XD3
CE3
VF3
BG3
NA3
MB3
AC4
SD4
DE4
FF4
GG4
HA4
JB4
KC5
LD5
;E5
'F5
G5
A5
B5
C6
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C up to D — a 2nd, the smallest step between white keys.
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ZC3
XD3
CE3
VF3
BG3
NA3
MB3
AC4
SD4
DE4
FF4
GG4
HA4
JB4
KC5
LD5
;E5
'F5
G5
A5
B5
C6
W
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C up to E — a 3rd. Notice the gap is a little wider.
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ZC3
XD3
CE3
VF3
BG3
NA3
MB3
AC4
SD4
DE4
FF4
GG4
HA4
JB4
KC5
LD5
;E5
'F5
G5
A5
B5
C6
W
E
T
Y
U
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C up to G — a 5th, a strong, open sound.
Loading piano sounds…
ZC3
XD3
CE3
VF3
BG3
NA3
MB3
AC4
SD4
DE4
FF4
GG4
HA4
JB4
KC5
LD5
;E5
'F5
G5
A5
B5
C6
W
E
T
Y
U
O
P
C up to the next C — an octave. The two notes share the same name.
Tip: Train your ears as well as your eyes: play two notes and try to name the gap before you count it. The Practice page has an ear-training drill for exactly this.
Try the ear-training drill →