scale degree
Hi
I've got a question where I don't understand why this is a perfect 4th. F G A Bb.
Can someone fill me in. Thanks so kindly.
I would have considered it a minor 4th.
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Hi
I've got a question where I don't understand why this is a perfect 4th. F G A Bb.
Can someone fill me in. Thanks so kindly.
I would have considered it a minor 4th.
Attachment | Size |
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perfect 4th..GIF | 3.31 KB |
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Comments
A numeric musical interval is determined by counting inclusively between letters. For instance, when counting as shown:
F G A Bb
1 2 3 4
... you'll find that Bb is a 4th from F.
B notes are flat in the key of F so the interval is simply a 4th—called a Perfect 4th, i.e. the 4th degree of the F major scale, a distance of 5 semitones. (Count semitones omitting the first letter:
F F# G G# A Bb
1 2 3 4 5
It's easy to think that a flat makes an interval minor, because sometimes it does.
Here are a few grammatical rules that govern the use of the words "minor" and "diminished."
If unaltered from their respective positions in a major scale:
• 1sts, 4ths, 5ths and 8ths (octaves) are Perfect intervals
• 2nds, 3rds, 6ths and 7ths are Major intervals
• When Major intervals are flatted they are call minor.
• When Perfect intervals are flatted they are called diminished. (Logically a b4 is the same as a "minor 4th" but the term "minor" isn't used to describe a b4.)
Here's an example:
The 4th degree of a D major scale is A. The flatting that note results in an Ab which is a diminished 4th from D.
It takes most people a bit of study to get comfortable with music core grammatical rules. So hang in there.
scorster
In reply to The numeric interval is… by scorster
thanks so much I will read this slower. Yes, I did get lost blah. Whenever i'm looking for the scale degree for my uke. I always count the chords on my fingers and now I get it. if I go F G A Bb it is the 4th and C is the 5th. Duh! man did I get lost!!!! ta muchly
There is no such thing and a minor fourth. The interval from the first note of a major scale to the fourth note is called a perfect fourth. Just as the interval from the first to fifth note is called a perfect fifth. The intervals from the first to second, third, sixth, and seventh notes are called major. That's just how it is; for reasons that are hard to explain but not really all that necessary to understand.
In reply to There is no such thing and a… by Marc Sabatella
Thanks Marc. What a lot of bother for you kind people, for me to finally get the gist. I just need to think in scales for each Key. The perfect 4th and 5th is in all scales. Just seeing it on the page like that completely threw me off. Very grateful. Michelle