An interval is the distance between two notes. Hear each one played on piano — rising, falling, and with both notes together — and connect it to a song you already know. These "anchor" songs give your ear something familiar to hold on to.
Anchors marked “commonly cited” are widely quoted but worth checking against a recording. Each song is referenced only by its opening notes.
Level 1: Close Intervals
Unison through the major third.
Unison
0 semitones
The same pitch twice — no movement at all.
Repeated note anchors
Familiar
Jingle Bells— Traditional first three notes repeat
Happy Birthday— Traditional first two notes
Rock
Seven Nation Army— The White Stripes first two notes of the riff
Minor second
1 semitone
The smallest step: tense and close, like a half-step slide.
Ascending anchors
Familiar
Jaws Theme— John Williams the two-note shark motif
Pink Panther Theme— Henry Mancini first two notes
White Christmas— Irving Berlin first two notes
Descending anchors
Familiar
Für Elise— Beethoven first two notes
Joy to the World— Traditional first two notes
Major second
2 semitones
A whole step — the distance between neighbouring notes of a major scale.
Ascending anchors
Familiar
Happy Birthday— Traditional 2nd to 3rd note
Frère Jacques— Traditional first two notes
Silent Night— Traditional first two notes
Do-Re-Mi— Rodgers & Hammerstein first two notes
Descending anchors
Familiar
Mary Had a Little Lamb— Traditional first two notes
Three Blind Mice— Traditional first two notes
Rock
Yesterday— The Beatles first two notes
Minor third
3 semitones
Darker and narrower than a major third; the lower third of a minor chord.
Ascending anchors
Familiar
Greensleeves— Traditional first two notes
Brahms' Lullaby— Brahms 2nd to 3rd note
Rock
Smoke on the Water— Deep Purple first two notes of the riff
Iron Man— Black Sabbath first two notes of the riff
Seven Nation Army— The White Stripes 2nd to 3rd note of the riff
Descending anchors
Familiar
This Old Man— Traditional first two notes
Frosty the Snowman— Nelson & Rollins first two notes
Rock
Hey Jude— The Beatles first two notes
Major third
4 semitones
Bright and open; the lower third of a major chord.
Ascending anchors
Familiar
When the Saints Go Marching In— Traditional first two notes
Kumbaya— Traditional first two notes
Morning Has Broken— Traditional first two notesCommonly cited
Descending anchors
Familiar
Swing Low, Sweet Chariot— Traditional first two notes
Symphony No. 5— Beethoven 3rd to 4th note of the opening motif
Summertime— Gershwin first two notesCommonly cited
Level 2: Fourths and Fifths
The perfect fourth, tritone and perfect fifth.
Perfect fourth
5 semitones
Stable but expectant; feels like it wants to resolve.
Ascending anchors
Familiar
Here Comes the Bride— Wagner first two notes
Amazing Grace— Traditional first two notes
O Christmas Tree— Traditional first two notes
Auld Lang Syne— Traditional first two notes
Descending anchors
Familiar
Eine kleine Nachtmusik— Mozart first two notes
Born Free— John Barry first two notesCommonly cited
