The Theory

We are here to help you develop your relative pitch! But what is relative pitch? This is the ability to identify the distance between two notes – known as the interval between two notes. This is a very powerful tool because it allows you to understand how music works just by listening to it and it’s extremely helpful when improvising, composing, singing, and playing in a band.

First, some basic theory…

yes, we have to cover it. Let’s start with note names.

There are seven note names: C, D, E, F, G, A, B.

Between those notes there can be either a whole tone distance of a semitone distance (a whole tone equals two semitones). So, there is a whole tone difference between: C and D; D and E; F and G; G and A; A and B. There is a semitone difference between: E and F; B and C.

A sharp (#) raises a note by a semitone. A flat (b) lowers a tone by a semitone.

To illustrate: Between C and D there is a whole tone distance, which equals two semitones.
A semitone higher than C is C#
A semitone lower than D is Db
But C# and Db are the same thing, they are the same pitch so you could refer to them either way for now. But between E and F; B and C there is a semitone difference and that’s it. There is no E #, no Fb, no B# and no Cb.

Intervals

We will teach only the perfect fourth, perfect fifth and octave intervals for now. Let’s take the diatonic scale of C, this would be, C-D-E-F-G-A-B-C. A perfect forth (P4) is the interval between 4 degrees of the diatonic scale. A P4 from C is an F A perfect fifth (P5) is the interval between 5 degrees of the diatonic scale. A P5 from C is a G An octave (P8) is the interval between 8 degrees of the diatonic scale. A P8 from C is a C again but higher pitched (double the frequency).

Even if you don’t get the theory behind it, it’s okay because using this powerful tool will allow you to get the melodies out of your head and play them on the instrument of your choice instantaneously.

Practice

On the practice page of this website you can practice the above mentioned intervals. It allows you to replay the interval and to reset the counter if you so desire.

You only get a point if you guess the right interval from the fist time!