Melody - Intervals

An interval is the distance between two (2) pitches.

To find an interval, count up from the bottom note like this:

This is an interval of a 5th.
Five (5) letters names starting from the bottom

There are two intervals that are not usually known by a number:

•      The interval between two identical notes is called unison (where both notes sound the same):

•    The interval of an eighth is called an octave or 8va. This interval is the distance between any note and the next note with the same letter name:

A harmonic interval is the distance between two (2) pitches which are played at the same time.

A melodic interval is the distance between two (2) pitches which are played one after the other.

When the interval is so close together, the second note is
placed very close to the side of the lower note,
just gently touching.

Drawing the Harmonic 2nd interval

Tip#1 Writing a Harmonic Second Interval on the staff:

• The note that has the lower pitch (sound) is written as the note on the left.
• The note that has the higher pitch is written on the right.

Tip #2 Writing a Harmonic Second Interval using Ledger Lines:

• If the lower line note is on a ledger line, the upper space note will share the same ledger line. The ledger line will be extended so that only one ledger line is used for the harmonic second interval.
• If the lower note is in the space, the ledger line for the upper line note does not need to extend across the top of the space note. It only needs to extend for the length of the line note itself.

Melodic range is the total distance between the highest note of a melody and the lowest note of the melody. We can describe ranges as high, medium, or low, as well as large or small. Each of these qualities adds something different to the expression of the tune.