Enter two notes (like C4 and G4) to find the exact musical interval between them.
Note A: Note B:
How It Works
Each note is converted to a semitone number, the distance between the two is measured in semitones, and that distance is matched to its interval name (like Major 3rd or Perfect 5th), with octaves counted separately for wider gaps.
How to Use This Tool
- Enter the first note using letter and octave, like C4 or F#3.
- Enter the second note the same way.
- Click Identify to see the semitone distance and interval name.
The order of the two notes does not matter; the tool reports the interval size regardless of which note is higher.
Worked example: C4 is 0 semitones from itself and G4 is 7 semitones above it, so the distance is 7 semitones, which is a Perfect 5th. Try C4 to E4: the distance is 4 semitones, a Major 3rd. Change E4 to Eb4 and it drops to 3 semitones, a Minor 3rd. That single-semitone difference is what separates a bright major sound from a darker minor one.
Common Intervals at a Glance
| Semitones | Interval | Example from C |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Minor 2nd | C to Db |
| 2 | Major 2nd | C to D |
| 3 | Minor 3rd | C to Eb |
| 4 | Major 3rd | C to E |
| 5 | Perfect 4th | C to F |
| 7 | Perfect 5th | C to G |
| 12 | Octave | C to C |
Why Learn Intervals?
Intervals are the building blocks of melody and harmony. Chords are stacks of intervals, scales are patterns of them, and ear training is largely the skill of recognizing them by sound. Students who learn to name intervals can pick out melodies by ear, transpose songs faster, and understand why a chord sounds happy, sad, or tense. A good habit is to sing or play the interval after the tool names it, so the sound connects to the name.
Did You Know?
- The interval of a Perfect 5th (7 semitones) is the basis for power chords used widely in rock guitar.
- A Tritone (6 semitones) splits the octave exactly in half and was historically nicknamed “the devil’s interval” for its dissonant sound.
Frequently Asked Questions
What note format should I use?
Use a letter A through G, an optional sharp (#) or flat (b), and an octave number, such as A3, C#4, or Bb2.
Does it handle intervals wider than an octave?
Yes, the result shows the number of full octaves plus the remaining interval within the final octave.
Why do sharps and flats give the same result?
On a piano or in standard tuning, notes like C# and Db are the same pitch, so they are the same number of semitones from any other note. In formal theory the two spellings can produce different interval names (an augmented 4th versus a diminished 5th, for example), but they sound identical.
How do I get better at hearing intervals?
Connect each interval to a song you know. Many people link a Perfect 5th to the opening of a familiar fanfare, and a Perfect 4th to a well-known wedding march. Practice a few minutes a day, starting with the intervals you find easiest to recognize.