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The fourth
The fourth is a distance of three letters. Note: when you start counting at one, it is the fourth letter.
C(1) - D(2) - E(3) - F(4) - G(5) - A(6) - B(7) - C(8)
So C-F is a fourth, and D-G, or G-C, or Eb-Ab, and also Eb-A, or Eb-A#, etc.
Types of fourths
There are no major or minor fourths, but - just like the unison, there is perfect, diminished and augmented:
- Perfect fourth: two and a half tone. E.g. C-F, D-G, Eb-Ab, F-Bb
- Diminished fourth: two whole tones. E.g. C#-F, D-Gb, E-Ab
- Augmented fourth: three whole tones. E.g. C-F#, D-G#, F-B
Audio examples of the fourth
Respectively a perfect, diminished and augmented fourth
The fifth
The fifth is a distance of four letters. Note: when you start counting at one, it is the fifth letter:
Examples: C-G, D-A, G-D, Eb-Bb, and also E-Bb, or C#-Gb, etc.
The fifth is a very commin interval, not only in music. When you have a metal beam and you drop it, you can hear a perfect fifth.
Types of fifths
Just like the fourth, there is a perfect, diminished and augmented fifth.
- Perfect fifth: three and a half tone. E.g. C-G, D-A, Eb-Bb, F-C
- Diminished fifth: three tones (so this is also a tritonus). E.g. C-Gb, D-Ab, G#-D
- Augmented fifth: four whole tones. E.g. C-G#, D-A#, F-C#
A common notation for a diminished fifth is b5 ("flat five").
Audio examples of the fifth
Respectively a perfect, diminished and augmented fifth
The sixth
The sixth is a distance of fiver letters. Again: when you start counting at one, it is the sixth letter.
Examples: C-A, D-B, C-Ab, C-A#, etc.
Types of sixth
There are major, minor, diminished and augmented sixths
- Major sixth: four and a half tone. E.g. C-A, D-B, E-C#
- Minor sixth: four tones.E.g. C-Ab, D-B, F-D
- Diminished sixth: three and a half tones. E.g. C#-Ab
- Augmented sixth: five whole tones. E.g. C-A#
Audio examples of the sixth
Respectively a major, minor, diminished and augmented sixth
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