# Major, minor and perfect

*Module 4 · Lesson 2: Intervals · BazzLow*

> Name the 12 intervals within an octave by number and quality.

Before this lesson: [4.1 What an interval is](https://bazzlow.com/en/intervals/what-is-an-interval/)

The number of an interval is only half of its name. The other half is its quality, and together they name every interval in the octave.

## Perfect, major and minor

- **Perfect** intervals: the unison, the 4th, the 5th and the octave. They have no major or minor form.
- **Major** and **minor** intervals: the 2nd, 3rd, 6th and 7th. The minor version is one semitone smaller than the major.

Together they are the **interval qualities**. Writing a quality and a number gives a short name: P5 is a perfect 5th, M3 a major 3rd, m3 a minor 3rd.

## The 12 intervals in the octave

*The 12 intervals within the octave, measured up from C.*

| Semitones | Name | Short | From C |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 0 | perfect unison | P1 | C–C |
| 1 | minor 2nd | m2 | C–D♭ |
| 2 | major 2nd | M2 | C–D |
| 3 | minor 3rd | m3 | C–E♭ |
| 4 | major 3rd | M3 | C–E |
| 5 | perfect 4th | P4 | C–F |
| 6 | augmented 4th / diminished 5th (tritone) | A4 / d5 | C–F♯ / C–G♭ |
| 7 | perfect 5th | P5 | C–G |
| 8 | minor 6th | m6 | C–A♭ |
| 9 | major 6th | M6 | C–A |
| 10 | minor 7th | m7 | C–B♭ |
| 11 | major 7th | M7 | C–B |
| 12 | perfect octave | P8 | C–C |

The two names in the 6-semitone row are two spellings of the same size. Lesson 4.4 explains them.

> **Diagram:** The A string from C at fret 3 up to fret 15, each fret labelled with its interval above C: P1, m2, M2, m3, M3, P4, A4, P5, m6, M6, m7, M7, P8.

## A handy reference

From the first note of a major scale, every other scale note is a **major or perfect** interval: M2, M3, P4, P5, M6, M7, P8. To name an interval, compare it with the major scale of its lower note. The Degrees view of the diagrams uses the same idea: ♭3 is a minor 3rd above the root, 3 a major 3rd, and so on.

## Try it

From C at fret 3 on the A string, play each interval of the table on the same string (frets 3 to 15). Say the short name of each.

## New terms

- perfect interval
- major interval
- minor interval
- interval quality

Page: https://bazzlow.com/en/intervals/interval-qualities/