1. Melodic, Harmonic, and Rhythmic Dictation
  2. Module 5: Intervals

Module 5: Intervals

An interval is the space between two pitches. Intervals have three characteristics:

  1. Size: the number of letter names or scale degrees that separate the two pitches
  2. Quality: the specific distance between the two pitches
  3. Direction: ascending, descending, or harmonic

Learning to sing and identify intervals without first having an established a tonal center are important skills for musicians to master and will increase your ability to deal with increasingly complex music in your future.

a. Hearing and Singing Intervals Acontextually

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b. Major and Minor Seconds

Melody 5B-1

  1. Listen to the following melody.
  2. Name the time signature.
    3. 2/4
  3. Listen to the melody again. Determine the number of measures.
    4. 4
  4. Listen again. Notate only the rhythm above the staff.
    5. Melody_5B-1B
  5. The key signature is C major. Determine the clef and starting pitch.
    6. Treble clef, middle C
  6. Listen again. Notate the melody.
    7. Melody_5B-1A

Melody 5B-2

  1. Listen to the following melody.
  2. Name the time signature.
    3. 4/4
  3. Listen to the melody again. Determine the number of measures.
    4. 4
  4. Listen again. Notate only the rhythm above the staff.
    5. Melody_5B-2B
  5. The key signature is F major. Determine the clef and starting pitch.
    6. Bass clef, F, 4th line
  6. Listen again. Notate the melody.
    7. Melody_5B-2A

Melody 5B-3

  1. Listen to the following melody.
  2. Name the time signature.
    3. 4/4
  3. Listen to the melody again. Determine the number of measures.
    4. 4
  4. Listen again. Notate only the rhythm above the staff.
    5. Melody_5B-3B
  5. The key signature is G major. Determine the clef and starting pitch.
    6. Treble clef; G, 2nd line
  6. Listen again. Notate the melody.
    7. Melody_5B-3A

Melody 5B-4

  1. Listen to the following melody.
  2. Name the time signature.
    3. 2/4
  3. Listen to the melody again. Determine the number of measures.
    4. 8
  4. Listen again. Notate only the rhythm above the staff.
    5. Melody_5B-4B
  5. The key signature is C major. Determine the clef and starting pitch.
    6. Treble clef; E, 1st line
  6. Listen again. Notate the melody.
    7. Melody_5B-4A

Melody 5B-5

  1. Listen to the following melody.
  2. Name the time signature.
    3. 3/4
  3. Listen to the melody again. Determine the number of measures.
    4. 8
  4. Listen again. Notate only the rhythm above the staff.
    5. Melody_5B-5B
  5. The key signature is G major. Determine the clef and starting pitch.
    6. Bass clef; G, 4th space
  6. Listen again. Notate the melody.
    7. Melody_5B-5A

Melody 5B-6

  1. Listen to the following melody.
  2. Name the time signature.
    3. 3/4
  3. Listen to the melody again. Determine the number of measures.
    4. 8
  4. Listen again. Notate only the rhythm above the staff.
    5. Melody_5B-6B
  5. The key signature is D minor. Determine the clef and starting pitch.
    6. D below the treble staff
  6. Listen again. Notate the melody.
    7. Melody_5B-6A

Melody 5B-7

  1. Listen to the following melody.
  2. Name the time signature.
    3. 4/4
  3. Listen to the melody again. Determine the number of measures.
    4. 8
  4. Listen again. Notate only the rhythm above the staff.
    5. Melody_5B-7B
  5. The key signature is E minor. Determine the clef and starting pitch.
    6. B above the bass staff
  6. Listen again. Notate the melody.
    7. Melody_5B-7A

Melody 5B-8

  1. Listen to the following melody.
  2. Name the time signature.
    3. 2/4
  3. Listen to the melody again. Determine the number of measures.
    4. 8
  4. Listen again. Notate only the rhythm above the staff.
    5. Melody_5B-8B
  5. The key signature is A minor. Determine the clef and starting pitch.
    6. Bass clef; A, 1st space
  6. Listen again. Notate the melody.
    7. Melody_5B-8A

c. Major and Minor Thirds

Melody 5C-1

  1. Listen to the following pitch pattern.
  2. Listen to the pitch pattern again. Determine the number of pitches.
    3. 8
  3. The pitch pattern is in treble clef, F Major, starting pitch is F, first space. Listen and notate the pitch pattern.
    4. Melody_5C-1A

Melody 5C-2

  1. Listen to the following pitch pattern.
  2. Listen to the pitch pattern again. Determine the number of pitches.
    3. 8
  3. The pitch pattern is in bass clef, D Major, starting pitch is F-sharp, 4th line. Listen and notate the pitch pattern.
    4. Melody_5C-2A

Melody 5C-3

  1. Listen to the following melody.
  2. Name the time signature.
    3. 2/4
  3. Listen to the melody again. Determine the number of measures.
    4. 8
  4. Listen again. Notate only the rhythm above the staff.
    5. Melody_5C-3B
  5. The key signature is C Major. Determine the clef and starting pitch.
    6. Treble clef, middle C
  6. Listen again. Notate the melody.
    7. Melody_5C-3A

Melody 5C-4

  1. Listen to the following melody.
  2. Name the time signature.
    3. 4/4
  3. Listen to the melody again. Determine the number of measures.
    4. 8
  4. Listen again. Notate only the rhythm above the staff.
    5. Melody_5C-4B
  5. The key signature is B-flat Major Determine the clef and starting pitch.
    6. Bass clef, B-flat, 2nd line
  6. Listen again. Notate the melody.
    7. Melody_5C-4A

Melody 5C-5

  1. Listen to the following melody.
  2. Name the time signature.
    3. 3/4
  3. Listen to the melody again. Determine the number of measures.
    4. 8
  4. Listen again. Notate only the rhythm above the staff.
    5. Melody_5C-5B
  5. The key signature is D Major. Determine the clef and starting pitch.
    6. D below the treble staff
  6. Listen again. Notate the melody.
    7. Melody_5C-5A

Melody 5C-6

  1. Listen to the following melody.
  2. Name the time signature.
    3. 3/4
  3. Listen to the melody again. Determine the number of measures.
    4. 11
  4. Listen again. Notate only the rhythm above the staff.
    5. Melody_5C-6B
  5. The key signature is G Major. Determine the clef and starting pitch.
    6. Treble clef, D, 4th line
  6. Listen again. Notate the melody.
    7. Melody_5C-6A

Melody 5C-7

  1. Listen to the following melody.
  2. Name the time signature.
    3. 4/4
  3. Listen to the melody again. Determine the number of measures.
    4. 8
  4. Listen again. Notate only the rhythm above the staff.
    5. Melody_5C-7B
  5. The key signature is F Major. Determine the clef and starting pitch.
    6. Bass clef, C, 2nd space
  6. Listen again. Notate the melody.
    7. Melody_5C-7A

d. Perfect Fifths and Octaves

Melody 5D-1

  1. Listen to the following pitch pattern.
  2. Listen to the pitch pattern again. Determine the number of pitches.
    3. 10
  3. The pitch pattern is in treble clef, G Major, starting pitch is G, 2nd line. Listen and notate the pitch pattern.
    4. Melody_5D-1A

Melody 5D-2

  1. Listen to the following pitch pattern.
  2. Listen to the pitch pattern again. Determine the number of pitches. 10
    3. 11
  3. The pitch pattern is in bass clef, B-flat major, starting pitch is B-flat, 2nd line. Listen and notate the pitch pattern.
    4. Melody_5D-2A

Melody 5D-3

  1. Listen to the following melody.
  2. Name the time signature.
    3. 2/4
  3. Listen to the melody again. Determine the number of measures.
    4. 8
  4. Listen again. Notate only the rhythm above the staff.
    5. Melody_5D-3B
  5. The key signature is F Major. Determine the clef and starting pitch.
    6. Bass clef, F, 4th line
  6. Listen again. Notate the melody.
    7. Melody_5D-3A

Melody 5D-4

  1. Listen to the following melody.
  2. Name the time signature.
    3. 3/4
  3. Listen to the melody again. Determine the number of measures.
    4. 8
  4. Listen again. Notate only the rhythm above the staff.
    5. Melody_5D-4B
  5. The key signature is A Major. Determine the clef and starting pitch.
    6. Treble clef, A, 2nd space
  6. Listen again. Notate the melody.
    7. Melody_5D-4A

Melody 5D-5

  1. Listen to the following melody.
  2. Name the time signature.
    3. 2/4
  3. Listen to the melody again. Determine the number of measures.
    4. 4
  4. Listen again. Notate only the rhythm above the staff.
    5. Melody_5D-5B
  5. The key signature is G Major. Determine the clef and starting pitch.
    6. Bass clef, G, 1st line
  6. Listen again. Notate the melody.
    7. Melody_5D-5A

Melody 5D-6

  1. Listen to the following melody.
  2. Name the time signature.
    3. 4/4
  3. Listen to the melody again. Determine the number of measures.
    4. 8
  4. Listen again. Notate only the rhythm above the staff.
    5. Melody_5D-6B
  5. The key signature is D Major. Determine the clef and starting pitch.
    6. D below the treble staff
  6. Listen again. Notate the melody.
    7. Melody_5D-6A

Melody 5D-7

  1. Listen to the following melody.
  2. Name the time signature.
    3. 2/4
  3. Listen to the melody again. Determine the number of measures.
    4. 8
  4. Listen again. Notate only the rhythm above the staff.
    5. Melody_5D-7B
  5. The key signature is C Major. Determine the clef and starting pitch.
    6. Treble clef, G, 2nd line
  6. Listen again. Notate the melody.
    7. Melody_5D-7A

e. Perfect Fourths

Melody 5E-1

  1. Listen to the following pitch pattern.
  2. Listen to the pitch pattern again. Determine the number of pitches.
    3. 8
  3. The pitch pattern is in treble clef, E major, and starts on E, first line. Listen and notate the pitch pattern.
    4. Melody_5E-1A

Melody 5E-2

  1. Listen to the following pitch pattern.
  2. Listen to the pitch pattern again. Determine the number of pitches.
    3. 10
  3. The pitch pattern is in bass clef, E-flat major, and starts on E-flat, 3rd space. Listen and notate the pitch pattern.
    4. Melody_5E-2A

Melody 5E-3

  1. Listen to the following melody.
  2. Name the time signature.
    3. 2/4
  3. Listen to the melody again. Determine the number of measures.
    4. 8
  4. Listen again. Notate only the rhythm above the staff.
    5. Melody_5E-3B
  5. The key signature is B-flat Major. Determine the clef and starting pitch.
    6. Treble clef, B-flat, 3rd line
  6. Listen again. Notate the melody.
    7. Melody_5E-3A

Melody 5E-4

  1. Listen to the following melody.
  2. Name the time signature.
    3. 4/4
  3. Listen to the melody again. Determine the number of measures. Note that the melody is anacrusic.
    4. 8
  4. Listen again. Notate only the rhythm above the staff.
    5. Melody_5E-4B
  5. The key signature is A Major. Determine the clef and starting pitch.
    6. Bass clef, E, 3rd space
  6. Listen again. Notate the melody.
    7. Melody_5E-4A

Melody 5E-5

  1. Listen to the following melody.
  2. Name the time signature.
    3. 3/4
  3. Listen to the melody again. Determine the number of measures. Note that the melody is anacrusic.
    4. 8
  4. Listen again. Notate only the rhythm above the staff.
    5. Melody_5E-5B
  5. The key signature is B minor. Determine the clef and starting pitch.
    6. Treble clef, F-sharp, 1st space
  6. Listen again. Notate the melody.
    7. Melody_5E-5A

Melody 5E-6

  1. Listen to the following melody.
  2. Name the time signature.
    3. 6/8
  3. Listen to the melody again. Determine the number of measures. Note that the melody is anacrusic.
    4. 8
  4. Listen again. Notate only the rhythm above the staff.
    5. Melody_5E-6B
  5. The key signature D minor Determine the clef and starting pitch.
    6. D below the treble staff
  6. Listen again. Notate the melody.
    7. Melody_5E-6A

f. Major and Minor Sixths

Melody 5F-1

  1. Listen to the following pitch pattern.
  2. Listen to the pitch pattern again. Determine the number of pitches.
    3. 8
  3. The pitch pattern is in treble clef, E-flat major, and starts on E-flat, first line. Listen and notate the pitch pattern.
    4. Melody_5F-1A

Melody 5F-2

  1. Listen to the following pitch pattern.
  2. Listen to the pitch pattern again. Determine the number of pitches.
    3. 13
  3. The pitch pattern is bass clef, A Major, and starts on A, first space. Listen and notate the pitch pattern.
    4. Melody_5F-2A

Melody 5F-3

  1. Listen to the following melody.
  2. Name the time signature.
    3. 3/4
  3. Listen to the melody again. Determine the number of measures. Note that the melody is anacrusic
    4. 8
  4. Listen again. Notate only the rhythm above the staff.
    5. Melody_5F-3B
  5. The key signature is A Major. Determine the clef and starting pitch.
    6. Treble clef, E, 1st line
  6. Listen again. Notate the melody.
    7. Melody_5F-3A

Melody 5F-4

  1. Listen to the following melody.
  2. Name the time signature.
    3. 2/4
  3. Listen to the melody again. Determine the number of measures.
    4. 8
  4. Listen again. Notate only the rhythm above the staff.
    5. Melody_5F-4B
  5. The key signature is F Major. Determine the clef and starting pitch.
    6. Treble clef, A, 2nd space
  6. Listen again. Notate the melody.
    7. Melody_5F-4A

Melody 5F-5

  1. Listen to the following melody.
  2. Name the time signature.
    3. 6/8
  3. Listen to the melody again. Determine the number of measures. Note that the melody is anacrusic.
    4. 8
  4. Listen again. Notate only the rhythm above the staff.
    5. Melody_5F-5B
  5. The key signature is G Major. Determine the clef and starting pitch.
    6. Bass clef, D, 3rd line
  6. Listen again. Notate the melody.
    7. Melody_5F-5A

Melody 5F-6

  1. Listen to the following melody.
  2. Name the time signature.
    3. 9/8
  3. Listen to the melody again. Determine the number of measures.
    4. 4
  4. Listen again. Notate only the rhythm above the staff.
    5. Melody_5F-6B
  5. The key signature is C minor. Determine the clef and starting pitch.
    6. Bass clef, C, 2nd space
  6. Listen again. Notate the melody.
    7. Melody_5F-6A

g. Tritones

Melody 5G-1

  1. Listen to the following pitch pattern.
  2. Listen to the pitch pattern again. Determine the number of pitches.
    3. 9
  3. The pitch pattern is in bass clef, E major, and starts on E, 3rd space. Listen and notate the pitch pattern.
    4. Melody_5G-1A

Melody 5G-2

  1. Listen to the following pitch pattern.
  2. Listen to the pitch pattern again. Determine the number of pitches.
    3. 10
  3. The pitch pattern is in treble clef, B minor, and starts on B, 3rd line. Listen and notate the pitch pattern.
    4. Melody_5G-2A

Melody 5G-3

  1. Listen to the following melody.
  2. Name the time signature.
    3. 4/4
  3. Listen to the melody again. Determine the number of measures.
    4. 8
  4. Listen again. Notate only the rhythm above the staff.
    5. Melody_5G-3B
  5. The key signature is B-flat major. Determine the clef and starting pitch.
    6. Bass clef, B-flat, 2nd line
  6. Listen again. Notate the melody.
    7. Melody_5G-3A

Melody 5G-4

  1. Listen to the following melody.
  2. Name the time signature.
    3. 3/4
  3. Listen to the melody again. Determine the number of measures.
    4. 8
  4. Listen again. Notate only the rhythm above the staff.
    5. Melody_5G-4B
  5. The key signature is F-sharp minor. Determine the clef and starting pitch.
    6. Treble clef, C-sharp, 3rd space
  6. Listen again. Notate the melody.
    7. Melody_5G-4A

Melody 5G-5

  1. Listen to the following melody.
  2. Name the time signature.
    3. 6/8
  3. Listen to the melody again. Determine the number of measures.
    4. 8
  4. Listen again. Notate only the rhythm above the staff.
    5. Melody_5G-5B
  5. The key signature is F major. Determine the clef and starting pitch.
    6. Treble clef, F, 1st space
  6. Listen again. Notate the melody.
    7. Melody_5G-5A

Melody 5G-6

  1. Listen to the following melody.
  2. Name the time signature.
    3. 9/8
  3. Listen to the melody again. Determine the number of measures.
    4. 8
  4. Listen again. Notate only the rhythm above the staff.
    5. Melody_5G-6B
  5. The key signature is E minor. Determine the clef and starting pitch.
    6. Bass clef, G, 4th space
  6. Listen again. Notate the melody.
    7. Melody_5G-6A

h. Major and Minor Sevenths

Melody 5H-1

  1. Listen to the following pitch pattern.
  2. Listen to the pitch pattern again. Determine the number of pitches.
    3. 9
  3. The pitch pattern is in treble clef, B Major. The starting pitch is B, 3rd line. Listen and notate the pitch pattern.
    4. Melody_5H-1A

Melody 5H-2

  1. Listen to the following pitch pattern.
  2. Listen to the pitch pattern again. Determine the number of pitches.
    3. 11
  3. The pitch pattern is in bass clef, E-flat major. The starting pitch is E-flat, 1st ledger line below the staff. Listen and notate the pitch pattern.
    4. Melody_5H-2A

Melody 5H-3

  1. Listen to the following melody.
  2. Name the time signature.
    3. 3/4
  3. Listen to the melody again. Determine the number of measures.
    4. 8
  4. Listen again. Notate only the rhythm above the staff.
    5. Melody_5H-3B
  5. The key signature is D minor. Determine the clef and starting pitch.
    6. Bass clef, A, 5th line
  6. Listen again. Notate the melody.
    7. Melody_5H-3A

Melody 5H-4

  1. Listen to the following melody.
  2. Name the time signature.
    3. 6/8
  3. Listen to the melody again. Determine the number of measures.
    4. 8
  4. Listen again. Notate only the rhythm above the staff.
    5. Melody_5H-4B
  5. The key signature is F minor. Determine the clef and starting pitch.
    6. Treble clef, F, 1st space
  6. Listen again. Notate the melody.
    7. Melody_5H-4A

Melody 5H-5

  1. Listen to the following melody.
  2. Name the time signature.
    3. 2/4
  3. Listen to the melody again. Determine the number of measures.
    4. 9
  4. Listen again. Notate only the rhythm above the staff.
    5. Melody_5H-5B
  5. The key signature is G major. Determine the clef and starting pitch.
    6. Bass clef, D, 3rd line
  6. Listen again. Notate the melody.
    7. Melody_5H-5A

Melody 5H-6

  1. Listen to the following melody.
  2. Name the time signature.
    3. 3/4
  3. Listen to the melody again. Determine the number of measures.
    4. 8
  4. Listen again. Notate only the rhythm above the staff.
    5. Melody_5H-6B
  5. The key signature is F major. Determine the clef and starting pitch.
    6. Treble clef, F, 1st space
  6. Listen again. Notate the melody.
    7. Melody_5H-6A

Melody 5H-7

  1. Listen to the following melody.
  2. Name the time signature.
    3. 2/4
  3. Listen to the melody again. Determine the number of measures.
    4. 8
  4. Listen again. Notate only the rhythm above the staff.
    5. Melody_5H-7B
  5. The key signature is D-flat major. Determine the clef and starting pitch.
    6. Bass clef, D-flat, 3rd line
  6. Listen again. Notate the melody.
    7. Melody_5H-7A
  1. Begin by taking a rhythmic dictation of your melody (see steps above). Figure out where things happen before you try to figure out what happens.
  2. Listen for and identify the tonic. If the melody modulates, listen for indications of each tonal area (usually you can listen for dominant sounds).
  3. Identify important scale degrees along the way by writing their numbers above the notes on your rhythmic dictation. Mark chromatic notes. These may include longer notes, notes on cadences, the first note, the last note, etc. Be sure to listen to pitches as scale degrees, using your scale degree patterns to verify what you think you hear.
  4. Listen for how the “important” scale degrees (from step 3 above) are approached and left. Listen also for groups of notes that form identifiable structures such as triads, seventh chords, etc.
  5. Once you have labeled your rhythm with scale degrees, transcribe this into standard notation on a staff.
  6. Double check your answer by singing what you have written and comparing it to what you remember.
  1. Begin by taking a rhythmic dictation for the melody as described above.
  2. Listen for repeating pitches or pitches that are close to known pitches, even if (especially if) they are separated by only a few pitches. Listen for embedded chromatic lines in the melody.
  3. Listen for characteristic intervals. For example, many melodies will use a particular interval repeatedly. Try to find all instances of that interval wherever it occurs.