Repeating an interval in semitones on the piano until the initial note is encountered reveals a unique pattern for each interval in the octave, and above.
We will diplay the patterns starting with interval 1 semitone and going up to interval 12 semitones. 0 is the starting note. Standard notation is used.
The starting note will be C, but this drill must be repeated starting with all twelve notes in the octave, going both up and down the full range of your instrument.
The drills are played with one hand, then the other. If you can play them alternating with both hands, which I haven't yet done, then do so. Each finger of each hand can also be used in turn as the starting finger.
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Interval 1 semitone :
0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 -- jump of 1 semitone
C C# D D# E F F# G G# A A# B C -- standard notation from C
i1 is a single series of 13 notes separated by 12 intervals of 1 semitone. This series covers 12 semitones, or 1 octave.
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Interval 2 semitones :
0 2 2 2 2 2 2
_ 0 2 2 2 2 2 2
C D E F# G# A# C
_ C# D# F G A B C#
i2 creates 2 series of 7 notes separated by 6 intervals of 2 semitones (one tone). Each series covers 12 semitones, or 1 octave.
These are the two 'whole-tone scales' in classical theory.
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Interval 3 semitones :
0 3 3 3 3
_ 0 3 3 3 3
_ _ 0 3 3 3 3
C D# F# A C
_ C# E G A# C#
_ _ D F G# B D
i3 creates 3 series of 5 notes separated by 4 intervals of 3 semitones. Each series covers 12 semitones, or 1 octave.
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Interval 4 semitones :
0 4 4 4
_ 0 4 4 4
_ _ 0 4 4 4
_ _ _ 0 4 4 4
C E G# C
_ C# F A C#
_ _ D F# A# D
_ _ _ D# G B D#
i4 creates 4 series of 4 notes separated by 3 intervals of 4 semitones. Each series covers 12 semitones, or 1 octave.
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Inteval 5 semitones :
0 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5
C F A# D# G# C# F# B E A D G C
i5 is a single series of 13 notes separated by 12 intervals of 5 semitones. This series covers 60 semitones, or 5 octaves.
This is the 'Circle of Fourths' in classical theory.
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Interval 6 semitones :
0 6 6
_ 0 6 6
_ _ 0 6 6
_ _ _ 0 6 6
_ _ _ _ 0 6 6
_ _ _ _ _ 0 6 6
C F# C
_ C# G C#
_ _ D G# D
_ _ _ D# A D#
_ _ _ _ E A# E
_ _ _ _ _ F B F
i6 creates 6 series of 3 notes separated by 2 intervals of 6 semitones. Each series covers 12 semitones, or 1 octave.
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Interval 7 semitones :
0 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7
C G D A E B F# C# G# D# A# F C
i7 is a single series of 13 notes separated by 12 intervals of 7 semitones. This series covers 84 semitones, or 7 octaves.
This is the 'Circle of Fifths' in classical theory.
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Interval 8 semitones :
0 8 8 8
_ 0 8 8 8
_ _ 0 8 8 8
_ _ _ 0 8 8 8
C G# E C
_ C# A F C#
_ _ D A# F# D
_ _ _ D# B G D#
i8 creates 4 series of 4 notes separated by 3 intervals of 8 semitones. Each series covers 24 semitones, or 2 octaves.
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Interval 9 semitones :
0 9 9 9 9
_ 0 9 9 9 9
_ _ 0 9 9 9 9
C A F# D# C
_ C# A# G E C#
_ _ D B G# F D
i9 creates 3 series of 5 notes separated by 4 intervals of 9 semitones. Each series covers 36 semitones, or 3 octaves.
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Interval 10 semitones :
0 10 10 10 10 10 10
_ 0 10 10 10 10 10 10
C A# G# F# E D C
_ C# B A G F D# C#
i10 creates 2 series of 7 notes separated by 6 intervals of 10 semitones. Each series covers 60 semitones, or 5 octaves.
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Interval 11 semitones :
0 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11
C B A# A G# G F# F E D# D C# C
i11 is a single series of 13 notes separated by 12 intervals of 11 semitones. This series covers 132 semitones, or 11 octaves. It goes more than 3 octaves beyond our hearing range.
It can be played going up by lowering the upcoming note that is out of range of your instrument by as many octaves as possible, and continuing on up, until the starting note reoccurs twelve notes away. Going down is the reverse procedure.
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Interval 12 semitones :
0 12
_ 0 12
_ _ 0 12
_ _ _ 0 12
_ _ _ _ 0 12
_ _ _ _ _ 0 12
_ _ _ _ _ _ 0 12
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ 0 12
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 0 12
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 0 12
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 0 12
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 0 12
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 0 12
C C
_ C# C#
_ _ D D
_ _ _ D# D#
_ _ _ _ E E
_ _ _ _ _ F F
_ _ _ _ _ _ F# F#
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ G G
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ G# G#
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ A A
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ A# A#
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ B B
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ C C
i12 creates 12 series of 2 notes separated by 1 interval of 12 semitones. Each series covers 12 semitones, or 1 octave.
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Repeating these simple non-musical series up and down your instrument should directly connect in your brain each note on the intrument to all the other notes its needs to be familiar with when playing music. But in a neutral, non-musical context.
A second and different interval will be added to the first interval, making the series more complex. Then a third interval will join them. Soon all musical constructs should be encountered in a systematic way in this non-musical context.
I found that intervals 1 to 7 semitones were easier to play and more important than intervals 8 to 12 semitones. If you want to duplicate these drills on a keyboard, you will find them difficult. But I have found an easier way to play intervals, which I will be showing you soon.
The patterns of interval 7 semitones will be studied in more detail in the next story. This will set the groundwork for applying the patterns of interval 2. Implementing the two series of interval 2, the two 'whole-tone scales', should make interval play much easier overall.