E to A is a 5th

[ThatGermanDude]

or so one of my friends says. he bases it on the fact that there are 5 chromatic notes between the two.
i always thought E to A is a 4th because a is the 4th note in an E scale.
who is right?

[cnltb]

Up to A from th E is 4th, down from E to A is a 5th.

[SpectorBass308]

thats what she said

[MikeyB]

The named intervals are based on semitones (or 1/2 steps which is one fret position on the bass) and the convention is to count them going "up" (from the lower pitch to the higher pitch):

Halfsteps / Interval Name:

0 perfect unison
1 minor 2nd
2 major 2nd
3 minor 3rd
4 major 3rd
5 perfect 4th
6 augmented 4th or diminished 5th
7 perfect 5th
8 minor 6th
9 major 6th
10 minor 7th
11 major 7th
12 perfect octave

So, E up to A is 5 semitones and therefore it is a perfect 4th.

-M

[WayneS]

Originally Posted by cnltb

Up to A from th E is 4th, down from E to A is a 5th.

A to E is a perfect 5th. How do you get that its a 4th one way and a 5th the other way?

[Jared Lash]

Going from E up to A is a perfect fourth. Going up from A to E is a fifth. Run through the major scales (E and then A) to prove it to yourself.

[ThatGermanDude]

i know that, but my friend insisted that E to A is a perfect 5th, not just 5 half steps, which is obvious. and he's taking music theory and is playing in cello in our orchestra. so that confused me a little.

[Dave Muscato]

Originally Posted by WayneS

A to E is a perfect 5th. How do you get that its a 4th one way and a 5th the other way?

It depends on how many half-steps are in between. Between E and A, you have 5 half-steps:

1 = E to F
2 = F to F#
3 = F# to G
4 = G to G#
5 = G# to A

According to Mikey's chart, that's a Perfect 4th.

But, the other way (from A to E), you have 7 half-steps, or a Perfect 5th:

1 = A to Bb
2 = Bb to B nat.
3 = B nat to C
4 = C to C#
5 = C# to D
6 = D to D#
7 = D# to E

Just memorize the chart and count the half-steps. After awhile, you'll just be able to hear it and know what it is, without having to count or look at a chart.

[Dave Muscato]

Originally Posted by ThatGermanDude

i know that, but my friend insisted that E to A is a perfect 5th, not just 5 half steps, which is obvious. and he's taking music theory and is playing in cello in our orchestra. so that confused me a little.

Your friend is wrong

[WayneS]

Originally Posted by TheBigO

Going from E up to A is a perfect fourth. Going up from A to E is a fifth. Run through the major scales (E and then A) to prove it to yourself.

Nevermind, I read his post wrong.

[Bass Thunder]

Originally Posted by ThatGermanDude

i know that, but my friend insisted that E to A is a perfect 5th, not just 5 half steps, which is obvious. and he's taking music theory and is playing in cello in our orchestra. so that confused me a little.

scary

[Poop-Loops]

Your friend is a moron. Cellos are tuned in 5ths and the distance between the notes (or how many half steps) between two adjacent strings is different than for a guitar. That he plays cello and doesn't know that is appalling.

However, it could be that because cellos are tuned in 5ths he thinks all stringed instruments are.

[scothar]

The tuning of an instrument doesn't affect musical theory. E to A is a perfect fourth in every scale that comes out of major and has both E and A(and some more), because when starting from E, A is always the fourth note when playing the scale. You can also get a reference at the circle of the fourths and fifths.

[Skel]

Maybe the significant thing is just that if your playing in the key of "E", "A" is the IV chord, while "E" is obviously the I chord (root). If you're playing a song in the key of "A", then "E" is the V chord and NOT the IV chord - "D" would be the IV chord in this case, and again, "A" is the I chord (root).

In music theory there are the "cycle of 4ths" and the "cycle of 5ths" - you should read up on this if it ends up mattering to you.

[Alvaro Martín Gómez A.]

Unless otherwise stated, intervals are ALWAYS understood from the lowest pitch to the highest. So, if you start counting, you'll get: E (First), F (Second), G (Third) and A (Fourth). On the other hand... A (First), B (Second), C (Third), D (Fourth), E (Fifth). The distance between E and A is a fourth. The distance between A and E is a fifth.

[geoffkhan]

Originally Posted by Alvaro Martín Gómez A.

Unless otherwise stated, intervals are ALWAYS understood from the lowest pitch to the highest.

Yeah, that's pretty much the norm...

Of course, if you're using the equal interval system, an interval and its inversion are essentially the same. (thus the intervals only go up to a tritone) But that's beside the point...

[DocBop]

Originally Posted by ThatGermanDude

or so one of my friends says. he bases it on the fact that there are 5 chromatic notes between the two.
i always thought E to A is a 4th because a is the 4th note in an E scale.
who is right?

You are right E up to A is a perfect 4th.

Just apply the key signature and count the scale degrees.

E F# G# A......
1 2 3 4

[Naminator01]

Originally Posted by Poop-Loops

Your friend is a moron. Cellos are tuned in 5ths and the distance between the notes (or how many half steps) between two adjacent strings is different than for a guitar. That he plays cello and doesn't know that is appalling.

However, it could be that because cellos are tuned in 5ths he thinks all stringed instruments are.

Sir, I believe you are a moron, do not assume anything online buddy.

Even my old teacher said it was both ways depending on how you look at it. And he has a doctorate.

To me E to A is a P4.