Ear Training

Musical Intervals 3


Having learned the Unison, Tritone, Octave, Perfect Fourth, and Perfect Fifth we add two more.


The Intervals of a (Major) Third and a Minor Sixth.

One semitone below the Fourth is the Major Third, and one above the Fifth is the Minor Sixth.

These are Inversions of each other. From C to E is a (Major) Third. From C to A-flat is a Minor Sixth. But from E to C is a Minor Sixth, and from A-flat (or G-sharp) to C is a Third. What we call them depends on what the starting or reference note is. If in the key of C, then E is the Third, and A-flat is the Minor Sixth. This would apply even if these notes were lower then the C, or in different octaves.

Terminology can be confusing in this way, but if not refering to a key, tonic or root, and just refering to the two notes, we would name them based on starting with the first note.



Intervals and inversions quiz in the key of C

Note:
When wrong, selecting a second or third answer which is correct will increase your score. For an accurate score, choose only one answer per quiz question.


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Quiz 1

Click the ? ? ? to listen to the interval

Click below, naming the interval.

Third
 
Octave
 
Minor 6th

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Quiz 2

Click the ? ? ? to listen to the interval

Click below, naming the interval.

Third
 
Minor 6th
 
Unison

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Quiz 3

Click the ? ? ? to listen to the interval

Click below, naming the interval.

Octave
 
Unison
 
Tritone

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Quiz 4

Click the ? ? ? to listen to the interval

Click below, naming the interval.

Third
 
Tritone
 
Minor 6th

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Quiz 5

Click the ? ? ? to listen to the interval

Click below, naming the interval.

Tritone
 
Third
 
Minor 6th

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Quiz 6

Click the ? ? ? to listen to the interval

Click below, naming the interval.

Third
 
Octave
 
Minor 6th

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Quiz 7

Click the ? ? ? to listen to the interval

Click below, naming the interval.

Minor 6th
 
Tritone
 
Third

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Quiz 8

Click the ? ? ? to listen to the interval

Click below, naming the interval.

Minor 6th
 
Third
 
Octave

Intervals may be inverted.

They will be labeled one of two ways here.

If labeled a Third or a Minor Sixth, it is in reference to the interval below the first tone.

If labeled a a Third (inv.) or a Minor Sixth (inv.), it is in reference to the the first tone regardless of octave.

Third
Ascending
 
Third (inv.)
 
Third
Descending
Minor Sixth
Ascending
 
Minor Sixth (inv.)
 
Minor Sixth
Descending


From tonic (1st scale degree) to the Perfect Fourth degree (as in from C to F) is a total of 5 semitones.

From tonic (1st scale degree) to the Perfect Fifth degree (as in from C to G) is a total of 7 semitones.

Again, this can be tricky. They are inversions of each other so what you want to train your ear (and mind) to is not just the the difference in pitch, but the direction, and refereance tone. More than anything this is about communicating with others. If you say "a Fourth" with reference to a key such as C, it will always be an F, regardless of octave. However, if you say "a Fourth below C", you imply 5 descending semitones, which would be a G instead.

In hearing just the tones as on the quiz, there may be two correct answers, an inversion of an interval, and a descending interval. Such is the nature of all the interval inversions ...excepting the octave and tritone.


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Quiz 9

Click the ? ? ? to listen to the interval

Click below, naming the interval.

Minor 6th
Descending
 
Third
Descending
 
Octave

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Quiz 10

Click the ? ? ? to listen to the interval

Click below, naming the interval.

Octave
 
Minor 6th
Descending
 
Third
Descending

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Quiz 11

Click the ? ? ? to listen to the interval

Click below, naming the interval.

Minor 6th
Descending
 
Octave
 
Minor 6th (inv.)

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Quiz 12

Click the ? ? ? to listen to the interval

Click below, naming the interval.

Tritone
 
Minor 6th (inv.)
 
Third (inv.)

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Quiz 13

Click the ? ? ? to listen to the interval

Click below, naming the interval.

Third
 
Tritone
 
Octave

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Quiz 14

Click the ? ? ? to listen to the interval

Click below, naming the interval.

Octave
 
Third
Descending
 
Tritone

Thirds and Minor Sixths as a Dyads or Double Stops.

Third
C-E
 
Third (inv.)
Minor 6th
C-A♭
 
Minor 6th
(inv.)

There is no mention of Descending here, as these intervals are not played in sequence.

Note also that they are in the key of C, So the E is always a (Major) Third, and The A♭ always a Minor Sixth regardless of octave.


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Quiz 15

Click the ? ? ? to listen to the interval

Click below, naming the interval.

Third
 
Tritone
 
Minor 6th

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Quiz 16

Click the ? ? ? to listen to the interval

Click below, naming the interval.

Tritone
 
Minor 6th (inv.)
 
Third (inv.)

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Quiz 17

Click the ? ? ? to listen to the interval

Click below, naming the interval.

Tritone
 
Minor 6th
 
Third

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Quiz 18

Click the ? ? ? to listen to the interval

Click below, naming the interval.

Tritone
 
Minor 6th (inv.)
 
Third (inv.)

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Quiz 19

Click the ? ? ? to listen to the interval

Click below, naming the interval.

Third (inv.)
 
Minor 6th (inv.)
 
Tritone

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Quiz 20

Click the ? ? ? to listen to the interval

Click below, naming the interval.

Minor 6th
 
Third
 
Tritone

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Quiz 21

Click the ? ? ? to listen to the interval

Click below, naming the interval.

Tritone
 
Minor 6th
 
Third

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Quiz 22

Click the ? ? ? to listen to the interval

Click below, naming the interval.

Tritone
 
Minor 6th (inv.)
 
Third (inv.)

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Quiz 23

Click the ? ? ? to listen to the interval

Click below, naming the interval.

Third (inv.)
 
Tritone
 
Minor 6th (inv.)

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Quiz 24

Click the ? ? ? to listen to the interval

Click below, naming the interval.

Third (inv.)
 
Minor 6th (inv.)
 
Tritone

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Quiz 25

Click the ? ? ? to listen to the interval

Click below, naming the interval.

Third
 
Tritone
 
Minor 6th

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