VINT, component of the Visual Piano System
What are Intervals
in music?
Imagine you’re standing on a staircase. Each step is like a note in music. If you step from one stair to the very next, that’s a small jump. If you skip five stairs, that’s a big jump.
That “distance” between two notes is called an interval.
Why Intervals matter
Intervals are the building blocks of music. Every melody, every harmony, every song you’ve ever heard is made from intervals.
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They’re how we know if two notes sound close together or far apart.
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They give music its “flavor” — happy, sad, spooky, exciting.
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They help singers, guitarists, pianists (and everyone else) know how to move from one note to another.
Small Jumps vs. Big Jumps
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Small intervals (like moving from one note to the very next) sound smooth and connected. Think of “Mary Had a Little Lamb” — it mostly moves by small steps.
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Big intervals (like skipping over several notes) sound dramatic. Think of the first two notes of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” — it starts with a big leap!
Intervals You Already Know
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You don’t need to be a musician to recognize intervals. You already hear them every day:
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The “doorbell” sound is an interval.
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The first two notes of your favorite song? That’s an interval.
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Even sirens on police cars and ambulances go up and down by intervals.
Why They’re Fun to Learn
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Once you start noticing intervals, music feels like a secret code you can finally read. You’ll recognize familiar sounds everywhere and be able to create your own melodies.
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Learning intervals is kind of like learning to taste flavors. At first, you just know “sweet” or “sour.” Later, you can tell the difference between vanilla, honey, and caramel. Intervals are the same — they open your ears to the details of music.
Summary
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In short: Intervals are just the distance between two notes — sometimes tiny steps, sometimes giant leaps — and they’re what make music come alive.
