What is an interval? What is a melodic interval vs. a harmonic interval?

Answer 1

A melodic interval is the distance between two pitches. Understanding the different types of intervals can help us understand how melodies are crafted. For instance, the jump of a perfect fourth often remind us of the famous wedding song, and a jump of a major sixth often reminds us of a ringing doorbell. Larger intervals in succession can also create more tension or energy in a melodic phrase while seconds and thirds are more songful. These intervals often give us emotional feeling as we listen to music, thirds and sixth are often very melancholy for instance, while minor seconds or major sevenths might make us feel unsettling.

A harmonic interval is just the same concept but with two or more notes ringing at the same time, such as in a chord. This has the same principles except that when a note is played, there are overtones ringing above and below that note. As more notes are added, more overtones are added and start to clash, creating more tension in the sound.

Answer 2

An interval is a measured distance. It could be in time or distance. In music it usually refers to the distance between the natural notes or the white keys on a piano.

Unlike most intervals, in music you include both ends as part of the count. For instance, you play a C and an E. You would calculate the distance beginning on C and then step to D and end on E: C-D-E and it would be a 3rd interval. if you went from C and went all the way up to A, it would be a 6th interval: C-D-E-F-G-A. It's possible to modulate the intervals into ones referred to as: Perfect, Major, minor, diminished and Augmented and rules to figure each one apply. But, the fundamental interval is just measuring how many white keys does it take to get from the first note to the last.

If you have an interval, you have 2 ends with a note letter representing each one, like: C-E. If you have 2 notes you can play them in 2 ways: together or separately. If you play your notes 1 at a time it is a Melodic Interval - like you sing a Melody, one note at a time. If you play your notes at the same time then it is a Harmonic Interval - like when you add notes to the Melody and play more than one note at a time, adding some Harmony.

But really, an interval is just the measurement from 1 white key to another, like 1 inch or 1 foot.

Answer 3

An interval is the distance between two notes. As so, a melodic interval is the distance between two notes with one played before the other. In opposition a harmonic interval is the distance between two notes played simultaneously. Multiple intervals, create chord tones.

Answer 4

An interval is a unit of measurement that measures the distance between two (or more) musical pitches. A melodic interval occurs when two notes are played in sequence, or one after the other. A harmonic interval occurs when two or more notes are played at the same time, like a chord.