{{Short description|Ability to name and reproduce musical intervals}}'''Interval recognition''', the ability to name and reproduce musical intervals, is an important part of ear training, music transcription, musical intonation and sight-reading.
== Reference songs == Some music teachers teach their students relative pitch by having them associate each possible interval with the first interval of a popular song.<ref>{{cite book|last=Mayfield|first=Connie E.|year=2012|title=Theory Essentials, Volume I: An Integrated Approach to Harmony, Ear Training, and Keyboard Skills|edition=2nd|publisher=Schirmer|location=New York|isbn=9781133713807|pages=50–51|url={{Google books|id=0RYKAAAAQBAJ|plain-url=yes}}}}</ref> Such songs are known as "reference songs".<ref>{{cite web|last=Sutton|first=Christopher|title=The Ultimate Guide to Interval Ear Training|url=http://www.easyeartraining.com/learn/ultimate-guide-to-interval-ear-training/|publisher=Easy Ear Training|access-date=24 June 2016}}</ref> However, others have shown that such familiar-melody associations are quite limited in scope, applicable only to the specific scale-degrees found in each melody.<ref>Rogers, Michael (1983): "Beyond Intervals: The Teaching of Tonal Hearing", ''Journal of Music Theory Pedagogy'', (6):18-34</ref>
Here are some examples for each interval:
{| class="wikitable" |- | 0/unison | colspan=4| {| style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; border: none;" | {{plainlist}} * "America the Beautiful" (on "Oh beautiful")'<ref>{{cite web|title=America the Beautiful|url=http://cantorion.org/pieces/3049/America-the-Beautiful-%28Materna%29|publisher=Cantorion|author=Samuel A. Ward}}</ref> * "God Save the King"/"My Country, 'Tis of Thee" * "Hava Nagila"<ref>{{cite web|title=Hava Nagila|url=http://jewishcuba.org/hava.html|publisher=The Jews of Cuba|author=Traditional}}</ref> * "Jingle Bells"<ref>{{cite web|title=Jingle Bells|url=http://cantorion.org/music/49/Jingle+Bells|publisher=Cantorion|author= James Lord Pierpont|authorlink= James Lord Pierpont}}</ref> * "La Marseillaise"<ref>{{cite web|title=La Marseillaise|url=https://www.mfiles.co.uk/scores/la-marseillaise.pdf|publisher=mfiles|author= Claude Joseph Rouget de Lisle}}</ref> * "One Note Samba"<ref>{{cite web|title=One Note Samba|url=https://musescore.com/user/28954815/scores/5161080|website=MuseScore|author=Antônio Carlos Jobim}}</ref> * "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" (on "twin-kle") {{endplainlist}} |} |- ! Steps/interval ! colspan=2|Ascending ! colspan=2|Descending |- | 1/minor second | {{plainlist}} * "Rule, Britannia!" * "As time goes by" * "Maquillaje" by Mecano * Theme of the One Ring from ''The Lord of the Rings''{{citation needed|date=August 2023}} * Theme from ''Jaws''<ref name=EarMaster>{{cite web|title=Songs to learn musical intervals|url=https://www.earmaster.com/products/free-tools/interval-song-chart-generator.html|website=EarMaster|publisher=EarMaster ApS|access-date=14 November 2016}}</ref><ref name=scales/> * "Nice Work If You Can Get It"<ref name=EarMaster/> * "Isn't She Lovely"<ref name="EarMaster" /><ref name=scales/> * Ode to Joy (2nd and 3rd notes)<ref name=scales>{{cite web|title=Use Songs You Know to Learn Your Musical Intervals|url=http://www.scales-chords.com/articles/Use-Songs-You-Know-to-Learn-Your-Musical-Intervals.html|website=Musical scales and chords|access-date=14 November 2016}}</ref>
{{endplainlist}} | 50px<br />C{{arrow|up}}C{{music|#}} | {{plainlist}} * "Stella by Starlight"<ref name=EarMaster/> * "Joy to the World"<ref name=EarMaster/><ref>{{cite web|title=Joy to the World|url=http://imslp.org/wiki/Joy_to_the_World_(Mason,_Lowell)|publisher=IMSLP|author= Lowell Mason|authorlink= Lowell Mason}}</ref> * "Für Elise"<ref name=EarMaster/><ref name=scales/><ref>{{cite web|title=Für Elise|url=http://imslp.org/wiki/Für_Elise,_WoO_59_(Beethoven,_Ludwig_van)|publisher=IMSLP|author= Ludwig van Beethoven|authorlink= Ludwig van Beethoven}}</ref> * Theme from ''Jurassic Park''<ref name="EarMaster" /><ref name=scales/> * Wedding March (Mendelssohn)<ref name=scales/>
* “Óleo de mujer con sombrero" by Silvio Rodríguez {{endplainlist}} | 50px<br />C{{arrow|down}}B |- | 2/major second | {{plainlist}} * "Frère Jacques"<ref name=EarMaster/><ref>{{cite web|title=Frère Jacques|url=http://www.traditional-songs.com/frere_jacques.php|publisher=traditional-songs.com|author= Traditional|authorlink= Traditional}}</ref> * "Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer" * "Silent Night"<ref name=EarMaster/><ref>{{cite web|title=Silent Night|url=http://www.wikifonia.org/node/202|publisher=Wikifonia|author=Franz Xaver Gruber|authorlink=Franz Xaver Gruber|access-date=2014-08-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130602113335/http://www.wikifonia.org/node/202|archive-date=2013-06-02|url-status=dead}}</ref> * "Never Gonna Give You Up"<ref>{{cite web|title=Never Gonna Give You Up|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yv5HmKomT7Y|publisher=YouTube|author= Rick Astley|authorlink= Rick Astley}}</ref> * "Strangers in the Night"<ref name=EarMaster/> * "Do-Re-Mi"<ref name=scales/> {{endplainlist}} | 50px<br />C{{arrow|up}}D | valign=top|{{plainlist}} * "Mary Had a Little Lamb"<ref name=scales/> * "Three Blind Mice"'<ref name=EarMaster/><ref name=scales/><ref>{{cite book|title=Complete Version of ye Three Blind Mice|url=http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/26060|publisher=Project Gutenberg|author= John W. Ivimey}}</ref> * "Satin Doll"<ref name=EarMaster/> * "The First Noel"<ref name=EarMaster/><ref>{{cite web|last=|first=|title=The First Nowell|url=http://www.hymnsandcarolsofchristmas.com/Hymns_and_Carols/first_nowell.htm|publisher=The Hymns and Carols of Christmas}}</ref> * "Pictures at an exhibition" by Modest Mussorgsky {{endplainlist}} | 50px<br />C{{arrow|down}}B{{music|b}} |- | 3/minor third | {{plainlist}}
* "The Sound of Silence" by Simon and Garfunkel * "A Cruel Angel's Thesis" (theme from ''Neon Genesis Evangelion'') * "Axel F" (the ''Beverly Hills Cop'' theme song)<ref name=EarMaster/> * "Greensleeves"<ref name=EarMaster/><ref>{{cite web|last=|first=|title=Greensleeves|url=http://tradtune.com/128275/Greensleeves.htm|publisher=TradTunes.com|access-date=2014-08-03|archive-date=2012-06-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120614010439/http://tradtune.com/128275/Greensleeves.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref> * "Smoke on the Water"<ref name=EarMaster/> * "O Canada"<ref name=EarMaster/><ref>{{cite web|last=|first=|title=National Anthem: O Canada|date=6 October 2015|url=http://www.pch.gc.ca/eng/1359402373291/1359402467746|publisher=Government of Canada|access-date=3 August 2014|archive-date=12 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160112205614/http://www.pch.gc.ca/eng/1359402373291/1359402467746|url-status=dead}}</ref> * "The Impossible Dream"<ref name=EarMaster/> * "So Long, Farewell"<ref name=scales/> * "Oh where, oh where has my little dog gone"<ref name=EarMaster/> * "Iron Man" by Black Sabbath<ref name=scales/> * "Bad"<ref name="EarMaster" /><ref name=scales/> * "Brahms's Lullaby"<ref name=EarMaster/><ref>{{IMSLP|cname=5 Lieder, Op. 49 (Brahms); 4. Wiegenlied (Berceuse)|work=5 Lieder, Op.49 (Brahms, Johannes)}}</ref> * "Hallelujah" {{endplainlist}} | 50px<br />C{{arrow|up}}E{{music|b}} | valign=top|{{plainlist}} * "Hey Jude"<ref name=EarMaster/><ref name=scales/> * "The Star-Spangled Banner"<ref name=EarMaster/><ref name=scales/><ref>{{IMSLP|cname=The Star-Spangled Banner|work=The Star-Spangled Banner (Smith, John Stafford)}}</ref> * "Frosty the Snowman"<ref name=EarMaster/> * "Te Diré" by Miguel Bosé * "This Old Man"<ref name=EarMaster/><ref>{{cite web|last=|first=|title=Free Sheet Music: 'This Old Man' (Primer Level)|url=http://pianopronto.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/2012_THIS_OLD_MAN.pdf|publisher=Piano Pronto|access-date=2014-08-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140808130019/http://pianopronto.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/2012_THIS_OLD_MAN.pdf|archive-date=2014-08-08|url-status=dead}}</ref> * "Can We Fix It?" from ''Bob the Builder'' {{endplainlist}} | 50px<br />C{{arrow|down}}A |- | 4/major third | | {{plainlist}} * "When the Saints Go Marching In"<ref name=EarMaster/> * "Spring" from Vivaldi's "Four Seasons"<ref name=EarMaster /><ref>{{IMSLP|cname=Violin Concerto in E major, RV 269 (Vivaldi)|work=Violin Concerto in E major, RV 269 (Vivaldi, Antonio)}}</ref> * "Kumbaya"<ref name=EarMaster/> * "And did those feet in ancient time" * "O mio babbino caro" * "Little Talks" * "Here, There and Everywhere" by The Beatles {{endplainlist}} | 50px<br />C{{arrow|up}}E | {{plainlist}} * "Summertime"<ref name=EarMaster/> * "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot"<ref name=EarMaster/><ref>{{IMSLP|cname=Swing Low, Sweet Chariot|work=Swing Low, Sweet Chariot (Willis, Wallis)}}</ref> * "Goodnight, Ladies"<ref name=EarMaster/> * Beethoven's Symphony No. 5 (first movement)<ref name=EarMaster/><ref>{{IMSLP|cname=Symphony No. 5, Op. 67 (Beethoven)|work=Symphony No.5, Op.67 (Beethoven, Ludwig van)}}</ref> * "Vois sur ton chemin" from “Les Choristes”
* "Stressed out” by Twenty one pilots (when it says, “wish we could TURN BACK time”) {{endplainlist}} | 50px<br />C{{arrow|down}}A{{music|b}} |- | 5/perfect fourth <!--No more examples please--> | {{plainlist}} * "Auld Lang Syne"<ref name=EarMaster/> * "O Tannenbaum/Oh Christmas Tree"<ref name=EarMaster/> * Here Comes the Bride<ref name=EarMaster/> * "Amazing Grace"<ref name=EarMaster/> {{endplainlist}} | 50px<br />C{{arrow|up}}F | valign=top|{{plainlist}} * ''Eine kleine Nachtmusik''<ref name=EarMaster/> * "O Come, All Ye Faithful"<ref name=EarMaster/> * Theme from ''Dynasty''<ref name=EarMaster/> {{endplainlist}} * “Marcha Real” * "Big Ben chime” (or “Let 'em in” by Paul McCartney, which has the same tune at the beginning | 50px<br />C{{arrow|down}}G |- | 6/tritone | valign=top|{{plainlist}} * "Maria" from ''West Side Story''<ref name=EarMaster/> * "The Simpsons Theme"<ref name=EarMaster/> {{endplainlist}} | 50px<br />C{{arrow|up}}F{{music|#}} | {{plainlist}} * "YYZ"<ref name=EarMaster/> * "Black Sabbath"<ref name=EarMaster/> * "Even Flow" {{endplainlist}} | 50px<br />C{{arrow|down}}F{{music|#}} |- | 7/perfect fifth | {{plainlist}} * ''Also sprach Zarathustra''<ref name=EarMaster/> * "Can't Help Falling in Love" (on ''Wise Men'')<ref name=EarMaster/> * "My Favorite Things"<ref name=EarMaster/> * "Scarborough Fair"<ref name=EarMaster/> * Theme from ''Star Wars''<ref name=EarMaster/> * "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" (from 1st to 2nd "twinkle")<ref name=EarMaster/> * "Yeah!"<ref name="EarMaster" /><ref name=scales/> {{endplainlist}} | 50px<br />C{{arrow|up}}G | valign=top|{{plainlist}} * ''Back to the Future'' Theme<ref name=EarMaster/> * "Don't You (Forget About Me)" chorus<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.noteflight.com/music/titles/efd19a89-813b-4774-8694-afc61a4e6638/don-t-you-forget-about-me|access-date=10 November 2023|title=Don't You (Forget About Me)|publisher=Hal Leonard|via=noteflight.com}}</ref> * ''The Flintstones'' Theme<ref name=EarMaster/> * "Seven Steps to Heaven"<ref name=EarMaster/> * "What Do You Do With A Drunken Sailor?"<ref name=EarMaster/> * ''Halloween'' Theme {{endplainlist}} | 50px<br />C{{arrow|down}}F |- | 8/minor sixth | {{plainlist}} * "In my life” by “The Beatles" * "Go Down Moses" on "When Is[-rael]" * Theme of ''1492: Conquest of Paradise''<ref name=EarMaster/> * "The Entertainer" (big interval after pick-up)<ref name=EarMaster/> * "Close Every Door"<ref name="EarMaster" /><ref name=scales/> * "Nothing Compares 2 U"<ref name="EarMaster" /><ref name=scales/> {{endplainlist}} | 50px<br />C{{arrow|up}}A{{music|b}} | valign=top|{{plainlist}} * "You're Everything" from ''Light as a Feather''<ref name=EarMaster/> * "Where Do I Begin?" from the film ''Love Story''<ref name=EarMaster/> * "Call Me Maybe"<ref name=EarMaster/> {{endplainlist}} | 50px<br />C{{arrow|down}}E |- | 9/major sixth | {{plainlist}}
* "El día que me quieras" by Carlos Gardel * "Gabriel's Oboe" (on the “chorus/climax”) by “Ennio Morricone” from the film “The Mission” * "For He's a Jolly Good Fellow"<ref name="EarMaster" /><ref name=scales/> * "It Came Upon the Midnight Clear"<ref name=EarMaster/> * "Jingle Bells" (on "{{em|dash-ing}} through the snow")<ref name=EarMaster/> * "Leia's Theme" (from ''Star Wars'')<ref name=EarMaster/> * "Libiamo ne' lieti calici", brindisi from Verdi's 1853 opera ''La traviata''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/AwesomeMusic/GiuseppeVerdi|title=Awesome Music / Giuseppe Verdi|website=tvtropes.org|access-date=2023-10-30}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|chapter-url=https://dlib.indiana.edu/variations/scores/bhr7293/large/sco10018.html|chapter=3. Libiamo ne' lieti calici|page=18|title=La traviata|author1=Giuseppe Verdi|author2=Francesco Maria Piave|translator=Natalie MacFarren|others=piano reduction by Berthold Tours|publisher=G. Schirmer|location=New York|year=1899}}</ref> * "My Bonnie Lies over the Ocean"<ref name=EarMaster/> * "My Way"<ref name=EarMaster/> * NBC chimes<ref name=EarMaster/> {{endplainlist}} | 50px<br />C{{arrow|up}}A | valign=top|{{plainlist}} * "Man in the Mirror" (chorus)<ref name="EarMaster" /><ref name=scales/> * "The Music of the Night"<ref name=EarMaster/> * "Nobody Knows the Trouble I've Seen"<ref name=EarMaster/> * "Over There"<ref name=EarMaster/> * "Until I Found You" by Stephen Sanchez * "Sweet Caroline"<ref>{{Cite web|last=Diamond|first=Neil|date=1969|title=Sweet Caroline Sheet Music|url=https://www.muhlsdk12.org/cms/lib07/PA01916549/Centricity/Domain/259/Sweet%20Caroline.pdf|access-date=31 March 2023|website=muhlsdk12.org}}</ref> {{endplainlist}} | 50px<br />C{{arrow|down}}E{{music|b}} |- | 10/minor seventh | {{plainlist}} * Theme from ''Star Trek''<ref name=EarMaster/> * "Somewhere" from ''West Side Story''<ref name=EarMaster/> * "The Winner Takes It All"<ref name="EarMaster" /><ref name=scales/> {{endplainlist}} | 50px<br />C{{arrow|up}}B{{music|b}} | valign=top|{{plainlist}} * "Watermelon Man"<ref name=EarMaster/> * "An American in Paris"<ref name=EarMaster/> * "Lady Jane" (refrain)<ref name=EarMaster/> {{endplainlist}} | 50px<br />C{{arrow|down}}D |- | 11/major seventh | {{plainlist}} * "Take On Me"<ref name=EarMaster/> * Theme from ''Fantasy Island''<ref name=EarMaster/> {{endplainlist}} | 50px<br />C{{arrow|up}}B | {{plainlist}} * "I Love You"<ref name=EarMaster/> * “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas (Nat King Cole)” * "Maybe" {{endplainlist}} | 50px<br />C{{arrow|down}}D{{music|b}} |- | 12/octave | {{plainlist}} * "Over the Rainbow"<ref name=EarMaster/> * "Blue Bossa"<ref name=EarMaster/> * "The Christmas Song"<ref name=EarMaster/> * "Starman" * "Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!"<ref name=EarMaster/> * "Heigh-Ho” from “Snow White" * "When You Wish Upon a Star" * "The Sound of Silence” by Simon and Garfunkel (when it says: AND THE, VISION) * "Don't Look Back In Anger" {{endplainlist}} | 50px<br />C{{arrow|up}}C | valign=top|{{plainlist}} * "Willow Weep for Me"<ref name=EarMaster/> {{endplainlist}} | 50px<br />C{{arrow|down}}C |}
In addition, there are various solmization systems (including solfeggio, sargam, and numerical sight-singing) that assign specific syllables to different notes of the scale. Among other things, this makes it easier to hear how intervals sound in different contexts, such as starting on different notes of the same scale.
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * {{Commons category-inline|Audio files of musical intervals}}
{{Ear training}}
Category:Music-related lists Category:Ear training Category:Intervals (music)