"Secrets
of Exciting Chords & Chord Progressions!"
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"
Secrets of Exciting
Piano
Chords &
Piano
Chord Progressions!"
- Free Piano Lesson 42 -
Intervals -- The Key That Unlocks The Door To Chords
Free piano lesson
online #42
Intervals are
simply the distance between any two notes.
So if we have two notes, say, C and D, the interval (another
word for space between) is a 2nd; C is 1 and D is 2. If the two notes are
C and E, then we have a third. C and F constitute a 4th, C and G a 5th,
and so on.
It's one thing to know that, but an entirely different thing to be
able to HEAR the difference between any two notes and recognize what
interval it is. It is also an entirely different thing to be able to SEE
any interval and immediately recognize it.
For example, if I can recognize a 7th when I see it in written
music, and I know what a 7th feels like when I play it -- in other words,
the span between notes is familiar -- then I can play it without thinking
and my sight-reading speeds up immensely.
Any even numbered interval, such as 2nd, 4th, 6th, 8th, 10th, or
12th, is made up of one line and one space. It can't be otherwise.
Any odd numbered interval, such as a 3rd, 5th, 7th, 9th, or 11th,
is made up of either two lines or two spaces -- never one of each. It
can't be otherwise.
Just knowing and understanding that alone can make a BIG
difference in your sight-reading.
As far as hearing the difference in intervals is concerned, two
things will help you develop your ear:
1. Being aware of intervals as you listen to songs. Think: "What
interval is that? If the melody is moving up, by how much? If the melody
is moving down, by how much? You'll be surprised how quickly you can
catch on to hearing intervals just by being
aware of them!
2. Play them on your instrument over and over. Play 2nds until
you feel like screaming and can't stand it anymore. Then play 3rds
repeatedly. Then 4ths. Then 5ths. Then 6ths. Then 7ths. Then octaves. Then
9ths. Then 10ths. Then 11ths. Then
12ths. Then 13ths. Then skip around -- 2nds, 9ths, 6ths, 3rds, etc. Have
someone else in the family play intervals for you and you guess what they
are.
Transpose the intervals into EVERY KEY (I created the
practice sheet in C, but you can transpose it to every other key and SEE
what the intervals look like while you
HEAR them!) If you want more practice developing your ear hearing
intervals, I suggest that you latch on to my audio CD course on the
subject where I drill you repeatedly on each interval. Click on the banner
below:
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