Augmented and Diminished Intervals

Question 1

augmented intervals

Answer 1

• when you take a major interval and raise it up a half step
• G to C# is an augmented 4th since it’s too big to be a perfect 4th
• augmented intervals usually like to resolve up
• note you can have an augmented unison when you have a half step (C to C#)

Question 2

diminished intervals

Answer 2

• when you take minor interval and take it down a half step
• C# to Bb is a diminished 7th sine it is too small to be a minor 7th
• diminished intervals like to usually resolve down
• note you can have a diminished 2nd with instances like a C# to a Db. it sound unison but is written differently

Question 3

tritone

Answer 3

• when you have three whole steps in an interval
• F to B is a naturally occurring tritone in a C major scale
• all scales have a naturally occurring tritone. this gives us our sense of resolution in a scale

Question 4

enharmonically equivalent intervals

Answer 4

• intervals that sound the same but written so they are different notes
• augmented unisons and diminished 2nds are enharmonically equivalent

Question 5

how many whole steps create a tritone?

for example the interval of D-G#

Answer 5

• 3

Question 6

major and perfect intervals made one half step bigger are ___________
minor and perfect intervals made one half step smaller are ___________

Answer 6

• augmented; diminished

Question 7

intervals that are 2nds, 3rds, 6ths, and 7ths can be:

diminished – minor – major – ___________

Answer 7

• perfect