Hearmony
Intervals with songs you know
A tune that opens with an interval is the quickest way to remember its sound. Every song in this chart was published before 1900, so you can sing it anywhere.
| Interval | Semitones | From C | Going up | Going down | Hear it |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| m2 minor second | 1 | C-D♭ | Ode to JoyBeethoven, Symphony No. 9, 1824 | Für EliseLudwig van Beethoven, 1810Joy to the WorldArr. Lowell Mason, 1839 | |
| M2 major second | 2 | C-D | Twinkle, Twinkle, Little StarFrench melody, 1761Frère JacquesFrench traditional, 1780Silent NightFranz Xaver Gruber, 1818 | Ode to JoyBeethoven, Symphony No. 9, 1824Mary Had a Little LambAmerican traditional, 1830 | |
| m3 minor third | 3 | C-E♭ | GreensleevesEnglish traditional, 1580Brahms' LullabyJohannes Brahms, Op. 49 No. 4, 1868 | Silent NightFranz Xaver Gruber, 1818Morning Mood (Peer Gynt)Edvard Grieg, 1875 | |
| M3 major third | 4 | C-E | When the Saints Go Marching InAfrican-American spiritual, 1896 | Frère JacquesFrench traditional, 1780Beethoven's FifthBeethoven, Symphony No. 5, 1808 | |
| P4 perfect fourth | 5 | C-F | Bridal Chorus (Here Comes the Bride)Richard Wagner, Lohengrin, 1850Amazing GraceTune “New Britain”, 1829Auld Lang SyneScottish traditional, 1788 | Eine kleine NachtmusikWolfgang Amadeus Mozart, 1787 | |
| TT tritone | 6 | C-F♯ | No common tune | No common tune | |
| P5 perfect fifth | 7 | C-G | Twinkle, Twinkle, Little StarFrench melody, 1761 | No common tune | |
| m6 minor sixth | 8 | C-A♭ | No common tune | No common tune | |
| M6 major sixth | 9 | C-A | My Bonnie Lies over the OceanScottish folk song, 1881Jingle BellsJames Lord Pierpont, 1857Nocturne Op. 9 No. 2Frédéric Chopin, 1832 | No common tune | |
| m7 minor seventh | 10 | C-B♭ | No common tune | No common tune | |
| M7 major seventh | 11 | C-B | No common tune | No common tune | |
| P8 octave | 12 | C-C | No common tune | No common tune |
The songs are Hearmony's built-in song anchors. In the app you can also type your own tune for each interval (Pro).
How to practise intervals by ear
Start with three intervals that sound far apart, such as a major third, a perfect fifth and an octave. Add one interval at a time once you get eight of ten right. Practise them going up, going down and played together, because a falling fourth does not feel like a rising one.
When two intervals keep getting mixed up
Most learners confuse the same few pairs: minor and major third, fourth and fifth, major sixth and minor seventh. Listening to the two back to back helps more than another random quiz. Hearmony does this with the Contrast Duel: six questions on exactly the pair you mixed up, repeated over the following days until you can tell them apart.
For iPhone. Free to download, with an optional Pro upgrade.