How do I name an interval?

Count the letter names from the lower note to the upper one, both included, for the number. Then the semitones give the quality: perfect, major, minor, augmented or diminished.

An interval of six semitones: an augmented 4th or a diminished 5th, depending on how it is spelled.

Why is B called H in German?

In German, B means B flat and H means B natural. Sharps add -is (Fis) and flats -es (Es, As).

What is the difference between melodic and harmonic intervals?

Melodic intervals are played one note after the other; harmonic intervals are played together.

Intervals and note names

Hear any interval above or below a note and see it on the stave, and look up note names in English, German, French and Italian. For music theory students from Grade 1 to Grade 5.

Lowest note

Intervals

Interval	Semitones	Notes
Unison	0	C – C
Minor 2nd	1	C – D♭
Major 2nd	2	C – D
Minor 3rd	3	C – E♭
Major 3rd	4	C – E
Perfect 4th	5	C – F
Augmented 4th (tritone)	6	C – F♯
Diminished 5th (tritone)	6	C – G♭
Perfect 5th	7	C – G
Minor 6th	8	C – A♭
Major 6th	9	C – A
Minor 7th	10	C – B♭
Major 7th	11	C – B
Octave	12	C – C

Note names in other languages

English	German	French	Italian	Spanish
C	C	Do	Do	Do
C♯	Cis	Do dièse	Do diesis	Do sostenido
D♭	Des	Ré bémol	Re bemolle	Re bemol
D	D	Ré	Re	Re
D♯	Dis	Ré dièse	Re diesis	Re sostenido
E♭	Es	Mi bémol	Mi bemolle	Mi bemol
E	E	Mi	Mi	Mi
F	F	Fa	Fa	Fa
F♯	Fis	Fa dièse	Fa diesis	Fa sostenido
G♭	Ges	Sol bémol	Sol bemolle	Sol bemol
G	G	Sol	Sol	Sol
G♯	Gis	Sol dièse	Sol diesis	Sol sostenido
A♭	As	La bémol	La bemolle	La bemol
A	A	La	La	La
A♯	Ais	La dièse	La diesis	La sostenido
B♭	B	Si bémol	Si bemolle	Si bemol
B	H	Si	Si	Si

In German, B is B flat and H is B natural; sharps add -is and flats -es (Fis, Es).

How it works

An interval is the distance between two notes. Choose the lower note to see every interval from a unison to an octave built on it, with the number of semitones and the two notes spelled correctly, and hear each one melodically (one after the other) or harmonically (together). Below is a table of note names in English, German, French, Italian and Spanish, including the German H.

Choose the lower note.
Read each interval with its semitones and notes.
Press the first button to hear the notes one after the other.
Press the second to hear them together.
Look up a note name in another language in the table.

Tips

Count letters for an interval’s number: C to E is C D E, a 3rd.
Then count semitones for its quality: 4 is major, 3 is minor.
Augmented 4th and diminished 5th are both 6 semitones: the tritone.

FAQ

How do I name an interval?: Count the letter names from the lower note to the upper one, both included, for the number. Then the semitones give the quality: perfect, major, minor, augmented or diminished.
What is a tritone?: An interval of six semitones: an augmented 4th or a diminished 5th, depending on how it is spelled.
Why is B called H in German?: In German, B means B flat and H means B natural. Sharps add -is (Fis) and flats -es (Es, As).
What is the difference between melodic and harmonic intervals?: Melodic intervals are played one note after the other; harmonic intervals are played together.