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The seventh

The seventh is a distance of six letters; if you start counting at one, it is the seventh letter.

C(1) - D(2) - E(3) - F(4) - G(5) - A(6) - B(7) - C(8)

C-B is a seventh, and D-C, or G-F, and also C-Bb, or D-C#, etc.

Types of seventh

The sevenh is an interval with a major. minor, diminished and augmented variation.

• Major seventh: five and a half tone. E.g. C-B, D-C#, Eb-D, F-E
• Minor seventh: five tones. E.g. C-Bb, D-Cb, Eb-Db, F-Eb
• Diminished seventh: four and a halve tones. E.g. C#-Bb, D#-C
• Augmented seventh: six whole tones. E.g. C-B#, Db-C#

Audio examples of the seventh

Respectively a major, minor, diminished and augmented seventh

Theorie vs reality

In "normal" - not theoratical - live, intervals that can be major or minor, are major or minor. The diminished and augmented versions are more theoretical. It's "normal" to ask a piano player to play a minor third, it is very uncommon to ask to play an augmented second.

The octave

The octave was also discussed in the first part of the music theory course.
An octave is a distance of seven letters (so eight when you start counting with one).

C-C' is an octave. The apostrophe at the second C indicates that the second C is an octave higher. The same way D-D' is an octave, And F#-F#', but also D-Db', G-G#', etc.

Types of octaves

The octave can be perfect, dimished or augmented. The same system as with all intervals applies.

A special one is the "double octave". A double octave has a distance of two octaves:

Audio examples of the octave

Respectively a perfect, diminished, augmented and double octave

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