The Wonderfully Confusing World of
Interval Naming
Here is a chart to help you visualize the different categories of intervals. The names can be confusing at first but in
time, they will help you understand how chords are players understand. They know about “major 3rds”, formed. Referring to intervals correctly is a skil“perfect octaves”, “minor sevenths”, and “diminishel that serious guitar d 5ths”.
PERFECT
Intervals
4th, 5th, OctaveINTERVALS
The distance between any two notes.Diatonic Intervals
Intervals found within a major scale.^Harmonic Intervals
half step from theirIntervals that have been raised or lowered one natural major scale position.MAJOR
Intervals
2nd, 3rd, 6th, 7thPERFECT
Intervals
4th, 5th, OctaveMAJOR
Intervals
2nd, 3rd, 6th, 7thMinor
Intervals
Major Intervals that have been
lowered one half step.
For example...^
b3rd, b6th, b7thAugmented
Intervals
Major Intervals that have been
raised one half step.
For example...^
#2nd, #6thDiminished
Intervals
Perfect Intervals that have been
lowered one half step.
For example...^
b5thAugmented
Intervals
Perfect Intervals that have been
raised one half step.
For example...^
#4th, #5th