Practical Chords & Harmony: a Player’s Guide

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Intervals
Seconds are usually either Major (M) or Minor (m).
A M2 consists of 1 whole step; for example C to D, or E to F# - both are whole steps, or Major 2nds.
A m2 consists of 1/2 step: for example C to Db, or D to Eb or E to F - all are 1/2 steps, or Minor 2nds.
Major 2nds

      
       
Minor 2nds
        
     
Thirds are usually either Major (M) or Minor (m).
A M3 consists of 2 whole steps; for example C to E and E to G# are are both major 3rds.
A m3 consists of 1 whole step + 1/2 step: for example C to Eb and D to F are both minor 2nds.

Major 3rds
     
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
   


Minor 3rds
      
 
 
 
 
 
  
   
Fourths are usually perfect (P).
A P4 consists of a M3 + 1/2 step. It can also be thought of as I and IV of a Major Scale.

 


Perfect Fourths
 
   
  
   
 
     
Fifths are usually perfect (P).
A P5 consists of a P4 + a whole step. It can also be thought of as I and V of a Major Scale.


    
  
Fifths
  
 




 
      
Sixths are usually either major or minor.
A major sixth consists a P5 + M2; for example C to A and E to C# are both major 6ths.
A minor sixth consists a P5 + m2; for example C to Ab and D to Bb are both minor 6ths.

  
 
 
  
Major 6ths
   
 
         
 

   


  
Minor 6ths
   
             
  
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Sevenths are usually either major or minor.

A major seventh consists a P5 + M3; for example C to B. It can also be thought of as 1/2 step below the octave.
A minor seventh consists a P5 + m3; for example C to Bb. It can aslo be thought of as a whole step below the octace.

 

 

Major 7ths
 

  

      
    

   
Minor 7ths

 
    
         
    

Augmented & Diminished 4ths & 5ths

Augmented intervals sharpen (raise) the top note 1/2 step (but keep the same letter name.)
The most common augmented intervals are 4ths & 5ths (and occasionally, 2nds & 6ths.)

Augmented 4ths

     


  
 
 
  
 
     

Augmented 5ths


 

 
   

 
  
         
 

Augmented 2nds

        

    

Augmented 6ths


 

 
 
  

 
 
       
  

Diminished intervals flatten (lower) the top note 1/2 step (but keep the same letter name.)
The most common diminished intervals are 5ths. Diminished intervals other than 5ths are extremely rare.
Diminished 5ths

  




    
            
    