Question about Intervals

[MostlyBass]

They are wrong. Terminology is important.
Octaves are always perfect, as there is only one kind. 2nds, 3rds, 6ths and 7ths have two flavors: minor and major. 4ths and 5ths have three flavors: perfect, diminished, and augmented.

Western music is based on the major scale, everything is named in relation to the corresponding interval in the major scale, starting on the root.

I'd say Western music is based more on the 12 tone equal temperament system. Much of post WWI music is atonal or serial. And if we back up to Bach and before, Pythagorean just tuning was the system du jour. And before that church modal systems where perfect 4ths were considered dissonant.

Bach paved the way for 12 tone diatonicism with the Well-Tempered Clavier.

But I agree with learning your intervals based on a major scale

 

[MostlyBass]

Things do get a little confusing when jazz terminology is included. They often lump all b7 chords as dominants. But in classical theory this is reserved for the V chord.

 

[MalcolmAmos]

We had an interesting interval discussion on another forum. The part about perfect 4th and 5ths was explained to where I finally knew why it is called that.

Check it out. [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

 

[MostlyBass]

http://www.amazon.com/Tonal-Harmony...Q6/ref=sr_1_13?ie=UTF8&qid=1336089584&sr=8-13

 

[davidhilton]

Its probably easier to learn all the intervals, as their relation to scales, modes, pentatonics etc... If you learn the C major scale: c, d, e, f, g, a, b, c, you learn that from c, to d, is a major 2nd, and c, to e, is a major 3rd, c, to f is a perfect 4th etc...same applies if you learn a 'c' natural minor scale: c, d, eflat, f, g, aflat, bflat, c...now you learn from c to eflat is minor 3rd, c to aflat, is a minor 6th, c to bflat, is minor 7th, and so on. then go on to learn all your gregorian modes, all the modes off the jazz, and harmonic minor, then on to the harmonic major. And dont forget to learn all your chords, and all their inversions, both triads, and 7th chords. I really think this may be a more musical way to learn your intervals. If you have any further questions, you can contact me here, or www.basslessonslosangeles.com
good luck. -david

 

[BassyBill]

So, this PDF you originally recommended. . . .care to offer it up again?

Link Removed

There's one or two errors in it that I'm sure you'll find easily enough. I really should get around to annotating it at some point.

 

[MostlyBass]

Here's a visual reference of intervals created by a colleague of mine.