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Lesson 1:
Starter Intervals
VINT notation turns intervals into clear, visual symbols that anyone can read. Once you have learnt what VINT symbol relates to which interval (distance between two notes) then it makes playing song melodies fun and engaging.
6 Starter VINTs
Shown above are six of the easiest (and some of the most common) VINTs you’ll encounter in song melodies when playing song melodies.
How VINT Works
Each VINT gliph symbol is composed of a series of lines (or strokes) when drawn.
VINT stroke count formula
3 notes
in between
Major
3rd
example
1
3 strokes to
draw shape
3
2
=
When you play two notes, the number of notes in between can change. This is what makes intervals different, and each interval has its own name.
The VINT formula
=
VINT Line count
Number of notes you pass between source & target note.
4
VINTs Explained
Let's look at each of the 12 VINTs individually and calculate the distance between the starting note & target note from the F note.
Note: We can use any starting note as reference, as long as we count the right number of in between notes, VINT will return the correct interval. We are just using F in this example.
Listed in order - smallest first
Represented by a number zero to indicate no notes between the source & target note.
Minor 2nd
0 notes in between
= Starting note
= Note in between
= Target note
Represented by a number 1 (single line) to indicate 1 notes between the source & target note.
Major 2nd
1 note in between
Represented by a plus symbol to indicate 2 notes between the source & target note.
Minor 3rd
2 notes in between
Represented by a triangle to indicate 3 notes between the source & target note.
Major 3rd
3 notes in between
Represented by a square to indicate 4 notes between the source & target note.
Perfect 4th
4 notes in between
Tritone
Represented by a 5 pointed star to indicate 5 notes between the source & target note.
5 notes in between
Note: We use a 5 pointed star here instead of a pentagon because it is easier to distinguish from other VINTs plus it looks cooler!
Next, we’ll explore the remaining 6 music intervals in VINT. These advanced VINTs involve larger jumps, compared to the smaller ones we just learned.
Next Lesson: Advanced VINTs
Coming Soon
Paperback Book
VINT, a component of the
Visual Piano System
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teach music theory through a unique visual method.
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