How to Identify Musical Intervals by Ear and on the Staff

Learn to recognize all intervals from unison to octave — by sight on the staff and by ear using famous melody references (Jaws = minor 2nd, Here Comes the Bride = perfect 4th).

What Is an Interval?

An interval is the distance between two notes. Intervals have a number (2nd,3rd,4th,5th) based on the letter names, and a quality (major, minor, perfect, augmented, diminished) based on the number of half steps. Learning to identify intervals is the gateway to ear training, sight-singing, and composition.

Famous Melody Associations

• Minor 2nd (1 half-step): Jaws theme
• Major 2nd (2): Happy Birthday
• Minor 3rd (3): Greensleeves
• Major 3rd (4): When the Saints Go Marching In
• Perfect 4th (5): Here Comes the Bride
• Perfect 5th (7): Twinkle Twinkle Little Star
• Octave (12): Somewhere Over the Rainbow

How to Practice

Write intervals on staff paper and sing them. Use our interval worksheets to test yourself daily. Within weeks, you will recognize intervals instantly — the foundational skill for all advanced theory and improvisation.