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Diatonic intervals are a fundamental concept in music theory that describe the distance between two pitches in the degrees of a diatonic scale.

The term “diatonic scale” refers to the major scale or to the other six modes that use the same notes in a major scale. Since this system also refers to how music is written, we always have to consider spelling. But we always want to picture what happens on the piano keyboard.

Unison

Unison: 1 letter: there is only one pitch

Octave

No other name

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Half tone

Minor 2nd: 2 letter span: no key is skipped
Universal name: Half tone

C – B, F – E

Major 7th

Major 7th: 7 letter span: invert a minor 2nd
Universal name: Major 7 interval

B – C, E – F

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Tone

Major 2nd: also 2 letter span: 1 key is skipped
Universal name: Tone

C – D, D – E, F – G, A – B

Dominant 7 interval

Minor 7th: 7 letter span: Invert a major 2nd
Universal name: Dominant 7 interval

D – C, E – D, G – F, A – G, B – A

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Fat tone

Minor 3rd: 3 letter span: 2 keys are skipped
Universal name: Fat tone

D – F, E – G, A – C, B – D

3 Fat

Major 6th: 6 letter span: invert a minor 3rd
Universal name: 3 Fat

C – A, D – B, F – D, G – E

Bitone

Major 3rd: also 3 letter span: 3 keys are skipped
Universal name: Bitone

C – E, F – A, G – B

Quad

Minor 6th: 6 letter span: invert a major 3rd
Universal name: Quad

F – D, G – E, B – G

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4th

Perfect 4th: 4 letter span: invert a 4th
Universal name: 4th

C – F, D – G, E – A, G – C, A – D, B – E

5th

Perfect 5th: 5 letters span: invert a 4tth
Universal name: 5th

C – G, D – A, E – B, F – C, G – D, A – E

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Tritone

F – B, B – F

Augmented: 4 or 5 letter span: 4th or diminished 5th: 4 or 5 letter span
Universal name: Tritone

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