if the interval is part of the major-minor family, how do you tell if its a major or minor?

Uh...


it goes like this


Minor 2nd is the smallest step you can take, it is equal to one half step, or 1 fret forward or back. Also called a semitone

A major 2nd is the next, being a full step, also known as a major tone. Indicates *2 frets* of change

then it goes

Minor third, major third...then comes Perfect Fourth, Augmented fourth (or diminished fifth), Perfect fith, minor sixth, major sixth, minor 7th, major 7th, Perfect Octave Interval

basically increases with 1 half step per interval


is this what you were wanting? If you memorize the above it's pretty easy to tell what it is.....


your question was just kinda confusing...

This post was edited by Eep on Jun 7 2010 11:33pm

Aurally, or written? The major scale is made up of all major intervals (except for the perfect ones; 4th, 5th, octave). So, if you use the major scale as your basis for deriving things (which you should), the minor intervals would be all of the major intervals in a major scale (2,3,6,7), but lowered a half step. If A major is: A B C# D E F# G# A. B is a M2, C# is a M3, F# is a M6, G# is a M7. So Bb=m2, C=m3, F=m6, g=m7.

Make sense?

There are other convoluted and roundabout ways of doing it, like saying "this interval is 'x' number of half steps", but it's more useful to just base your knowledge on major scales

This post was edited by chronowarp on Jun 7 2010 11:50pm

Well so long as he understands what all the intervals are then it's easy to understand


B is a M2 because it's a wholestep from A...

etcetc


edit: if you've mapped out the scale as well it's also easy

This post was edited by Eep on Jun 7 2010 11:58pm

It's really indirect and ineffective to try and build intervals by "x half steps", IMO, you lose sight of where they're coming from and it takes even longer to understand why.

maybe but in what situation do you have to know the terminology? It's not like people generally force you to understand the names right at once....even if it does take a little longer, counting by half steps isn't so bad.

Well the idea is to be able to instantaneously derive and interpret. Counting by half steps is the most ineffective method in terms of time/effort. If you just learn your major scales, and learn to relate most theoretical issues back to it (building chords, intervals, chord extensions) you're always better off.

winner you just cleared a mind block for me. god this music theory shit is relentless. i am using the circle of fifths and all that. now that i look at it from that perspective it makes more sense

feel free to send me fg :) (half kidding)