How is an interval measured?

How is an interval measured?

• A. Measured in whole steps
• B. Measured in semitones
• C. Measured in octaves
• D. Measured by letter names only

Answer: (B)

An interval is measured in semitones, the smallest step between two pitches in standard tuning. Counting how many semitones separate the two notes gives the exact size of the interval. For example, the distance from C to D is two semitones, which is a major second; one semitone between C and C# is a minor second; four semitones from C to E is a major third. An octave is twelve semitones. Whole steps are just two semitones, so counting only whole steps would miss the smaller half-step distances. Letter names alone don’t specify size, because they indicate general pitch class rather than how many semitones apart two notes are.

An interval is measured in semitones, the smallest step between two pitches in standard tuning. Counting how many semitones separate the two notes gives the exact size of the interval. For example, the distance from C to D is two semitones, which is a major second; one semitone between C and C# is a minor second; four semitones from C to E is a major third. An octave is twelve semitones. Whole steps are just two semitones, so counting only whole steps would miss the smaller half-step distances. Letter names alone don’t specify size, because they indicate general pitch class rather than how many semitones apart two notes are.