Piano Keys and Intervals

In piano keys, there are intervals between each key. Learn piano online to find how piano keys are arranged on the keyboard. The INTERVAL is the distance between any two notes.

A half step is the distance between two adjacent piano keys.

A whole step has 2 half steps or there is a key between the other two piano keys.

The number of the interval is the number of scale tones or notes that make up the interval. From C to D is a 2nd, C to E is a 3rd, C to F is a 4th, C to G is a fifth, C to A is a sixth, C to B is a seventh, and C to C is an octave.

From C to Db is a half step. Any interval with a flattened step is a minor interval. C to Db is a Minor 2nd.

We call it a 2nd interval because it is between the 1st and 2nd note of the scale.

From C to D is a whole step. Any interval with whole steps that are not flattened is a major interval.

From C to D is a major 2nd.

From C to D# is one and a half steps. We add a half step to a whole step on the interval and it becomes augmented.

From C to D# is an augmented 2nd chord.

From C to Eb is one and a half steps. Note that this includes the 3rd note of the scale. When we lower E to Eb, it is a minor interval.

From C to Eb is a minor 3rd interval.

From C to E is 2 whole steps. This is a major interval. It has no flattened steps.

From C to E is a major 3rd interval.

Remember that a major 3rd interval has 2 whole steps and you can find any major 3rd interval.

From C to F is a perfect 4th interval. It has 2 and a half steps.

From C to F# has an added half step and it becomes augmented. From C to F# is an augmented 4th chord.

From C to G is a perfect 5th interval. It has 3 and a half steps.

We call the major 4th and major 5th intervals perfect 4th and 5th intervals.

Note that C to F# or augmented 4th chord and the enharmonic note of C to Gb is the same note.

The notes F# and Gb are enharmonic notes.

From C to Gb is called a diminished interval. It has a flattened 5th note.

When a 4th or 5th interval is lowered it is called a diminished interval.

From C to G# is an augmented 5th interval. When a half step is added to a perfect 5th it becomes an augmented interval.

From C to A is a major 6th interval. It has no flattened steps and is a major interval.

From C to Bb is a minor 7th interval. It has a flattened 7th

step and is a minor interval.

From C to B is a major 7th interval. It has no flattened step and is a major interval.

Next lesson is Chords