Hey Friend,
Getting back to the intervals, the next is the Perfect Fourth. This is the fourth note in a major scale.
Tonic - we call this the root note most of the time; it’s the first note of the scale. In the key of C major, this note would be C.
Major Second - this is one whole step (tone) above the tonic. In the key of C major, this note would be D.
Major Third - two hole steps above the tonic. In the key of C major, this note would be E.
Perfect Fourth - five half-steps above the tonic. In the key of C major, this note would be F.
Perfect Fifth - seven half-steps above the tonic. In the key of C major, this note would be G.
Major Sixth - nine half-steps above the tonic. In the key of C major, this note would be A.
Major Seventh - eleven half-steps above the tonic. In the key of C major, this note would be B.
Perfect Octave - six whole steps above the tonic. In the key of C major, this note would be C.
In the key of C major, that is the shift from C to F. When we look at the scale pattern, we see it’s two whole steps (tones) and a half step (semitone).
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 (8)
C D E F G A B (C)
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W W H W W W H
Not to sound like a broken record (remember those?), but the interval between an E and F note will ALWAYS be a half step. The same with the interval between a B and C note.
For the intervals between C and D, D and E, F and G, G and A and A and B, ALWAYS whole steps. This means that there is always an accidental note between these intervals, either sharp or flat.
It does not matter what key you are playing in. These side-by-side intervals never change. If you can remember this along with the major scale pattern (W W H W W W H), you can always figure out what notes belong, regardless of the key.
For example, if you’re playing in the key of G major, just spell out the key with the notes that belong. This is how I do it:
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 (8)
G A B C D E F# (G)
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W W H W W W H
G to A - always a whole step. A to B, the same. B to C, always a half step. So far, so good…
C to D, a whole step. D to E, whole step.
But E to F is supposed to be a half step.
True. However, the major scale pattern calls for a whole step in this position, so F becomes F# (because we know there is a note between F and G, which is always a whole step interval).
See how that works?
Okay, here are the exercises for the Perfect Fourth interval. You can see and hear them used in the example songs.
Again, I didn’t worry about the correct tempo for the song examples. I want you to listen to and practice the intervals.
Let me know what questions you have.
Peace~
Dave
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