Interval Calculator Musictheory Net

This interval calculator helps you determine the distance between two musical notes in terms of semitones and interval quality. Whether you're a beginner learning music theory or an experienced musician refining your skills, this tool provides quick and accurate interval calculations.

What is a musical interval?

A musical interval is the distance between two pitches. It's measured in semitones (half-steps) and can be classified by quality (perfect, major, minor, augmented, diminished) and number (unison, second, third, etc.).

Understanding intervals is fundamental to music theory as they form the basis of scales, chords, and melodic patterns. The interval calculator helps you quickly determine the relationship between any two notes on the musical staff.

For example, the interval between C and E is a major third (4 semitones), while the interval between C and D is a minor second (1 semitone).

How to use this calculator

Using the interval calculator is simple:

Select the first note from the dropdown menu
Select the second note from the dropdown menu
Click "Calculate" to see the interval between the two notes
Review the result which shows the interval name, semitones, and quality

The calculator will display the interval name (e.g., "Major Third"), the number of semitones between the notes, and the interval quality (perfect, major, minor, etc.).

Types of musical intervals

Musical intervals can be categorized by their number and quality:

Interval Number	Perfect Interval	Major Interval	Minor Interval
Unison	Perfect Unison	-	-
Second	-	Major Second	Minor Second
Third	-	Major Third	Minor Third
Fourth	Perfect Fourth	-	-
Fifth	Perfect Fifth	-	-

There are also augmented and diminished intervals which are larger or smaller than perfect intervals by one semitone.

Interval formulas

The interval between two notes is calculated by:

Interval = |Note2 - Note1| mod 12

Where Note1 and Note2 are the semitone values of the notes (C=0, C#=1, D=2, etc.)

The interval quality is determined by comparing the calculated semitones to standard interval patterns:

Interval Number	Semitones	Quality
Unison	0	Perfect
Minor Second	1	Minor
Major Second	2	Major
Minor Third	3	Minor
Major Third	4	Major

FAQ

What is the difference between a major and minor interval?

A major interval is larger than a perfect interval by one semitone, while a minor interval is smaller than a perfect interval by one semitone. For example, a major third is 4 semitones, while a minor third is 3 semitones.

How do I calculate the interval between two notes?

Use the interval calculator by selecting the two notes and clicking "Calculate". The calculator will show you the interval name, semitones, and quality.

What is the largest interval in music?

The largest interval in Western music is the tritone, which is 6 semitones (between C and F#).