Interval Abbreviations

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Contd... On INTERVALS

Intervals are used so often in describing chords and scales that they are sometimes named in an extremely abbreviated way. Learn to recognize these variations in interval names.


⇒ Perfect and major intervals are implied by no mention of their quality at all : 5 for P5 (perfect 5th), 7 for M7(major 7th), etc.






⇒ The word "sharp" or the sharp symbol (#) is often used instead of "augmented" (or its abbreviations, "aug" or "+").

⇒ The word "flat" or the flat symbol(♭) is often used instead of "min" or "m."

⇒When a perfect interval (1,4,5,or8) becomes diminished,it maybe written with one flat (♭) instead of donors,or the diminished ("0").

⇒ When a major interval (2,3,6,7) becomes minor, it too is often written with a♭ instead of minor m, for instance,♭2  instead of m2.

Note: Intervals smaller than an octave are called simple intervals.

Here are other abbreviated INTERVALS and signs.

Intervals larger than an octave are called compound intervals . They may be analyzed as a simple interval raised by an octave.

To be continued...