How do you determine the difference between a minor interval and a diminished interval?

Question

This is for both triads and specific intervals ranging from seconds to sevenths -- I don't understand how to decipher if an interval is a minor, major, diminished, augmented, etc. I thought I had an idea but I feel like there may be special exceptions?

Answer 1

Minor chords vs diminished chords. A Minor chord is build with a minor 3rd (4 1/2 steps) then a major 3rd (5 1/2 steps) ACE or

A A# B C C# D D# E (with sharps) usually spelling in music for A minor

A Bb B C Db D Eb E (with flats)

A Diminished chords is build with all minor thirds (4 1/2 steps) ACEb or

A A# B C C# D D# E (with sharps)

A Bb B C Db D Eb E (with flats) usual spelling in music for A diminished

Answer 2

A major interval is two whole steps from the note of origin. A minor interval is the distance from one note to the next note that is 1 and a half steps above it, for instance in a C scale that might be the distance from C to Eb. A diminished interval would be a half step down, the distance from C to bbE or C to D which may be enharmonic to a major 2nd. Another example would be a diminished 7th which would be a bb7 or a flatted dominant 7th, equivalent to major 6th. You may also have a perfect 4th or 5th diminished by flatting them one half step.

Answer 3