Basic Music Theory: How to Read, Write, and Understand Written Music

Basic Music Theory

is below the P because a diminished interval is lower than a Perfect

interval.

Example 23.4 Altered Perfect intervals in C major.

Altering Major Intervals.

Major intervals can also be altered by raising or lowering them.

A Major interval lowered a half step becomes a minor interval.

A Major interval raised a half step becomes an augmented interval.

Here’s another little diagram. Just like before, the aug is above because

it’s higher than the Major, and the min is below because it’s a lower than

the Major:

P

dim

aug

dimU augU dim4 aug4 dim5 aug5

dim8 aug8

M

min

aug