Intervals & Tonal Degree Names - Part 3: Minor Intervals

Next we will be talking about minor intervals, like I said before a minor interval is when you lower a major interval by a half step. We will be talking about minor 2nds, 3rds, 6ths, and 7ths.

First the minor second. So since we know what a major 2^nd is we can figure out quite easily what a minor 2^nd is. For example a major 2^nd using C would be D. So a minor 2^nd from C would be Db. Hopefully that makes sense.

Here are all Minor 2nds:

· A-Bb

· A#-B

· Ab-Bbb

· B-C

· B#-C#

· Bb-Cb

· C-Db

· C#-D

· Cb-Dbb

· D-Eb

· D#-E

· Db-Ebb

· E-F

· E#-F#

· Eb-Fb

· F-Gb

· F#-G

· Fb-Gbb

· G-Ab

· G#-A

· Gb-Abb

These are all a half step up from the first note.

The next minor interval is the minor 3^rd. The minor third is seen a lot because of the minor chord, also because it is the 3^rd scale degree in the minor scale which we will be going over later. You can also get a minor third from lowering the major 3^rd interval by a half step.

Here are all Minor 3rds:

· A-C

· A#-C#

· Ab-Cb

· B-D

· B#-D#

· Bb-Db

· C-Eb

· C#-E

· Cb-Ebb

· D-F

· D#-F#

· Db-Fb

· E-G

· E#-G#

· Eb-Gb

· F-Ab

· F#-A

· Fb-Abb

· G-Bb

· G#-B

· Gb-Bb

There are all the 1^st - 3^rd scale degree in a minor scale. They are also the 2^nd to 4^th scale degree in all major scales. Lastly they are a whole step and a half step away.

The next is the minor 6^th. Similarly to the minor 2^nd and 3^rd the minor 6^th can be made by lowering the major 6^th interval by a half step.

Here are all minor 6ths:

· A-F

· A#-F#

· Ab-Fb

· B-G

· B#-G#

· Bb-Gb

· C-Ab

· C#-A

· Cb-Abb

· D-Bb

· D#-B

· Db-Bbb

· E-C

· E#-C#

· Eb-Cb

· F-Db

· F#-D

· Fb-Dbb

· G-Eb

· G#-E

· Gb-Ebb

The minor 6^th is 4 whole steps away. It is also a major 3^rd if you flip it. Example: Instead of C-Ab, Ab-C.

The last is the minor 7^th. Similar to all the rest it is as if you took a major 7^th and lowered it by a half step.

Here are all minor 7ths:

· A-G

· A#-G#

· Ab-Gb

· B-A

· B#-A#

· Bb-Ab

· C-Bb

· C#-B

· Cb-Bbb

· D-C

· D#-C#

· Db-Cb

· E-D

· E#-D#

· Eb-Db

· F-Eb

· F#-E

· Fb-Ebb

· G-F

· G#-F#

· Gb-Fb

The minor 7^th is 5 whole steps away. It is also a whole step down if you flip it. It is also the to 5^th to 4^th scale degree in a major scale. Descending obviously. Example: F major scale descending: F, E, D, C, Bb, A, G, F. Remember that descending it 8, 7,6,5,4,3,2,1.

This sums up the minor 7ths. To recap once again to keep your mind fresh with these intervals! A major interval is mainly seen in major scales, a perfect interval is when you can flip them and they usually stay the same or mirrored. Major and minor intervals share the same number intervals and just change by a half step in tone. Perfect intervals are unisons, 4ths, 5ths and octaves. An augmented interval is a perfect or major interval that has been raised by a half step. A diminished interval is a minor or perfect interval that has been lowered by a half step.

Here are 4 pictures showing the minor 2nd, minor 3rd, minor 6^th, and minor 7th.

The 1^st picture showing all minor 2nds on treble and bass clef played one after another in each measure using half notes.

The 2^nd picture showing all minor 3rds on treble and bass clef played one after another in each measure using half notes.

The 3^rd picture showing all minor 6ths on treble and bass clef played one after another in each measure using half notes.

The 4^th picture showing all minor 7ths on treble and bass clef played one after another in each measure using half notes.