What Are Compound Intervals?
In the previous lesson I gave you a task to find all the diminished and augmented intervals in Major, Natural Minor, Harmonic Minor and Melodic Minor. So now here are your answers, you can also find this page in the video downloads section. Pay attention if you missed any interval, understand it and then move on with the course.
Today’s topic will be Compound Intervals. Compound intervals are essentially extensions of simple intervals, which exceed the range of the octave up to two octaves.
To determine a compound interval, the process involves two steps:
Identify the Simple Interval between the lower and the higher note and then add the octave. For example, if the simple interval between C and Db is a minor second and the notes span beyond one octave, the compound interval is a Minor Ninth.
Then for the Major Second it’s Major Ninth, Minor Third-Minor Tenth, Major Third-Major Tenth, Perfect Fourth-Perfect Eleventh, Augmented Fourth-Augmented Eleventh, or Diminished Fifth-Diminished Twelveth, Perfect Fifth-Perfect Twelveth, Minor Sixth-Minor Thirteen, Major Sixth-Major Tirteenth, Minor Seventh-Minor Fourteenth, Major Seventh-Major Fourteenth, Perfect Octave-Perfect Fifteenth.
Now anything beyond the two Octaves will be called by the simple interval and then add the number of octaves. For examle for the Major Third we say Major Third + two Octaves, or + Three Octaves etc…
The Compound intervals are very important to understand so we can build chords in the future. There are many chords that are named by these compound intervals. We have 9th chords, 11th chords etc…
To develop some quickness of naming the compound intervals use this simple exercise: Don’t look at the keyboard and with both of your hands play any compound interval and then look at it and name it. Take your time as much as needed to identify the interval and move on. Do the exercise until you can name the intervals immideately.
On the next video i will test you to see how quickly you can recall the compound intervals. You already know the rules of the test, if not, refer to Lecture 14 where i’m explaining them.
Augmented And Diminished Intervals In Major And Minor