The counting ladder
Climb from the tonic
An interval's number comes from climbing the counting ladder. The tonic is rung 1. Each line or space up is the next rung. The rung you stop on is the number, counting both notes.
Quick check
On the ladder from C, which rung is A?
The same ladder in every key
The ladder works the same way in every key. The key signature changes the notes, never the numbers. E flat up to A flat is four rungs: a 4th.
From a 2nd to an octave
Grade 2 asks intervals from a 2nd up to an octave. Rung 8 is the tonic's letter again, eight notes up: an octave.
Quick check
What is rung 8 of the ladder called?
Remember
- The tonic is rung 1. Count every letter, both notes included.
- The key changes the notes, never the numbers.
- Rung 8 is the octave.
This question is in Brainlag Plus