Interval
Music Theory
The distance in pitch between two notes.
An interval is the distance between two notes, measured in semitones or by name (unison, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, octave). Intervals are the building blocks of scales, chords, and melodies.
On ukulele, each fret equals one semitone. So the interval from the open G string to the 3rd fret is three semitones — a minor third. From open to the 4th fret is a major third. These intervals determine whether a chord sounds major or minor.
The most important intervals to recognize by ear are the perfect fifth (7 semitones — think the first two notes of "Twinkle, Twinkle"), the major third (4 semitones), and the octave (12 semitones — same note, higher pitch).
Related Terms
Put this into practice with Pocket Uke's free tools