New School for Music Study—Written Piano Progressions
Levels 6 - 8 Study Guide
SUBJECT 1: Interval qualities
1. Intervals: We have two ways of measuring intervals
a) Quality (major, minor, perfect, augmented, diminished)
b) Size (2nd, 3rd, 4th, etc.)
Common abbreviations:
M = major
m = minor
P = perfect
A or + = augmented
d or ▫ = diminished
Examples of interval labels:
M2 (major 2nd)
P4 (Perfect 4th)
m3 (minor 3rd)
A5 (Augmented 5th)
d4 (diminished 4th)
COMMON QUESTION: “Okay, I understand major and minor, but what is this whole
“perfect” thing about?
ANSWER: unisons (same notes), 4ths, 5ths, and octaves are all considered “perfect”
when occurring within a major scale. In the C Major scale, degree 4 is F. C to F is
considered a “perfect 4th.” C – G is considered a “perfect 5.” C – C is considered a
“perfect octave.”
 Within a major scale, the following intervals are possible:
 Within a minor scale, the following intervals are possible:
QUESTION: Which interval qualities are the same in both scales?
Answer: ___________________________________________________________________
A note about Major and Minor 2nds:
- Major seconds are whole steps, minor seconds are half steps – it’s easy!
 EXERCISE: Major or minor 2nd?
A note about Major and Minor 3rds:
As pianists, we can picture the piano keyboard easily. “Mentally” place your thumb on the
lower note and “mentally” place finger 3 on the upper note. As you do this, are you picturing a
major or minor five-finger pattern? Let’s get started with an example to illustrate that:
INTERVAL on the staff:
MENTALLY PICTURING THE INTERVAL ON THE KEYBOARD:
This interval is the 1st and 3rd note of the G Minor five-finger pattern.
Answer: m3
 EXERCISE: Major or minor 3rd?
Exercise - 2nds and 3rds: Identify the quality and interval for these examples: (M2, etc.)
A note about 4ths:
We know that if 4ths occur within a major scale (assuming the lower note is the tonic), they are
considered perfect.
FACT: Perfect 4ths almost always occur between two white keys and two black keys.
The following intervals are all Perfect 4ths:
Question: Using the examples above as a guide, can you find the “exceptions” to white to
white/black to black rule? Write the exceptions below:
From (white key)_________ to (black key) ____________
From (black key) ________ to (white key) _________
 EXERCISE: If the interval is a perfect 4th, write P4 in the line provided. If it is not
a perfect 4th, draw a circle under the example:
Filling in the circles: For intervals that are NOT perfect 4ths, determine whether the intervals
are a half step larger or a half step smaller than a perfect 4th. If larger, fill in the circle with A4.
If smaller, fill in the circle with d4.
A note about 5ths:
FACT: Perfect 5ths almost always occur between two white keys and two black keys.
The following intervals are all Perfect 5ths:
Question: Using the examples above as a guide, can you find the “exceptions” to white to
white/black to black rule? Write the exceptions below:
From (white key)_________ to (black key) ____________
From (black key) ____________ to (white key) _________________
 EXERCISE: If the interval is a perfect 5th, write P5 in the line provided. If it is not
a perfect 5th, draw a circle under the example:
Filling in the circles: For intervals that are NOT perfect 5ths, determine whether the intervals
are a half step larger or a half step smaller than a perfect 5th. If larger, fill in the circle with A5.
If smaller, fill in the circle with d4.
 EXERCISE: Identify the intervals shown as perfect, augmented, or diminished (P5,
A4 etc.)
________ ________ ________ ________ ________ _______ ________ ____
 EXERCISE: Interval identification 2nds – 5ths: Circle all of the 4ths and 5ths and
complete these examples first (choices are perfect, augmented, or diminished).
Next, complete the other examples, noting that the choices will be major or minor.
A note about 6ths and 7ths: Look at the lowest note first, and consider it the “tonic” of a
major or minor scale:
If we assume the G is the tonic of a G Major Scale we know that in G Major, E’s are natural.
Since the top note of this interval is natural, we know that this is a Major 6th, or M6. If an Eb
were the top note, we’d know that the 6th is minor, since E’s are flat in G Minor.
The same logic will hold true for 7ths:
Looking at the lower note, G, we think of the G Major scale. Are F’s natural in G major? They
are not! Are F’s natural in the G Natural Minor scale? They are! We now know the answer:
minor 7th, or m7.
 EXERCISE: Identifying 6ths and 7ths: Identify the quality and the interval (for
example, m6, M7):
Final exercises on the last page.
***FINAL NOTE: Be certain to play all of these examples so that you can HEAR the sound of
each interval. This will be a great aid in ear-training!
 EXERCISE: Identifying intervals and qualities – Label the quality and the interval
for the examples below (M2, etc.). You might want to circle the 4ths and 5ths and
do these first.