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musicinterval

June 7, 2021 By Aron Bernstein 2 Comments

Weekly Music Theory Challenge 6/7/21

Show off your theory chops with my weekly challenge! You’ll find a new question here every Monday. Please comment to post your reply.

This week’s challenge:

These are the octaves that open Beethoven’s last piano sonata, Opus 111 in C minor. What interval do they form, and what interval is enharmonic with this one?

Listen to the Audio:

Check back Friday, June 11th for the answer!

ANSWER for 6/7/21

This is a diminished seventh. It’s enharmonic with a major sixth, but the spelling of E flat down to F sharp makes it a seventh. Letter name spelling always determines what an interval is called. When naming an interval, always start with letter names before considering the flats and sharps. Any kind of E (E natural, flat, or sharp) down to any kind of F is a seventh. Then look at the number of half-steps in the interval. A major seventh is eleven half-steps, a minor seventh is ten, and a diminished seventh is nine. It sounds the same as a major sixth, but spelling is everything! It determines not only the interval’s name, but also how it functions in music.

Want to Learn More?

Intervals are like the atomic building blocks of music, and I have complete interval lessons in the Fundamentals Module!  Sign up for a monthly subscription for full access to all video lessons, worksheets, and answer keys. Also, this year I’ll be adding new lessons on modes. I created Breaking Barlines with one thing in mind: making music theory effective and FUN!

Filed Under: music theory challenge Tagged With: beethoven, breakingbarlines, classicalmusic, interval, music, musiceducation, musicinterval, musiclessons, musictheory, musicvideo, popmusic

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