Intervals on Interactive Chord Finder

What Are Intervals and How to Identify Them by Ear

Sun, 15 Mar 2026 09:00:00 +0000

Every melody you have ever hummed, every chord you have ever played, and every harmony that has ever moved you is built from one fundamental ingredient: intervals. An interval is simply the distance between two notes. Learn to hear and name intervals and you unlock the ability to figure out melodies by ear, understand why chords sound the way they do, and communicate musical ideas with precision.

What Exactly Is an Interval?

An interval measures the pitch distance between two notes. When you sing the first two notes of “Happy Birthday” — the jump from the repeated note up to the higher one — you are singing an interval (a major second, as it happens). Intervals can be melodic (two notes played one after the other) or harmonic (two notes played simultaneously).

The Double Harmonic Scale: From Miserlou to Metal

Thu, 05 Mar 2026 09:00:00 +0000

The opening riff of Dick Dale’s “Miserlou” is one of the most instantly recognisable guitar lines in popular music. It races up and down a scale that sounds nothing like major or minor — something urgent, exotic, and slightly dangerous. That scale is the double harmonic, and its distinctive sound has travelled from Middle Eastern and Eastern Mediterranean traditions into surf rock, progressive metal, film scores, and video game soundtracks.

Understanding the Major Scale: The Foundation of Western Music

Sun, 15 Feb 2026 09:00:00 +0000

If you have ever hummed “Do Re Mi Fa Sol La Ti Do,” you already know the sound of a major scale. It is the most fundamental pattern in Western music, serving as the blueprint from which chords, melodies, and entire compositions are built. Whether you play guitar, piano, or any other instrument, understanding the major scale is the single most valuable step you can take in your music theory journey.