Musical Intervals
From “Why Are They ‘Perfect´?¨ in Music Theory for Electronic Music Producers
Intervals In and Out Of Keys
You may think a given interval, as long as it is the same distance, will always be comprised of the same amount of intervals. But, recall that intervals are measured or counted “in key.¨ The same interval in different “keys” will have different amounts of semitones for all the available keys (which includes the keys that have been excluded for the interval to be counted or measured “in a key¨). So an interval “in a key¨ can also be described or measured in relation to intervals for all available keys.
“In Key¨
Again, what is the meaning of “in (a/the) key¨!?
Intervals in music are counted inclusively, which is to say the key one starts with “while in key,¨ as well as the key one consequently ends on “while in key,¨ is included in the final count. The following uses the example of the “perfect 5th¨ interval for the key E “in the key of C¨ (“key of C¨ is mentioned also in 20240901153645-Musical_Octaves) to demonstrate how to count intervals:
From “Try It - Power Chord Riff with Perfect 5ths¨ in Music Theory for Electronic Music Producers
To find the 5th, just count up five white notes. The first note, E, up five notes becomes a B.
The perfect fifth, then, of E “in the key of C¨ is B.
A reference image of the perfect 5th, but for the case of the C key ”in the key of C¨ instead:
interval music music_theory interval_quality
bibliography
- “Why Are They ‘Perfect’?” In Music Theory for Electronic Music Producers: The Producer’s Guide to Harmony, Chord Progressions, and Song Structure in the MIDI Grid., 1st ed., 43. Minneapolis, MN: Slam Academy, 2018.
- “Try It - Power Chord Riff with Perfect 5ths.” In Music Theory for Electronic Music Producers: The Producer’s Guide to Harmony, Chord Progressions, and Song Structure in the MIDI Grid., 1st ed., 45. Minneapolis, MN: Slam Academy, 2018.