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4.2.7Intervals In Music: Interval Examples
What causes intervals (and, by extension, chords) to sound consonant or dissonant?
Have a look at the ratios of frequencies that correspond to consonant vs dissonant intervals (Table 15).
TABLE 15 Frequency Ratios of the Intervals
| Interval | Semitones | Example | Freq. Ratio | Consonant/Dissonant |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unison | 0 | C – same C | 1:1 | Consonant |
| Minor Second | 1 | C – C♯ | 16 : 15 | Dissonant |
| Major Second | 2 | C – D | 9 : 8 | Dissonant |
| Minor Third | 3 | C – E♭ | 6 : 5 | Consonant |
| Major Third | 4 | C – E | 5 : 4 | Consonant |
| Perfect Fourth | 5 | C – F | 4 : 3 | Consonant |
| Augmented Fourth | 6 | C - F♯ | 45 : 32 | Dissonant |
| Perfect Fifth | 7 | C – G | 3 : 2 | Consonant |
| Minor Sixth | 8 | C – A♭ | 8 : 5 | Consonant |
| Major Sixth | 9 | C – A | 5 : 3 | Consonant |
| Minor Seventh | 10 | C – B♭ | 9 : 5 | Dissonant |
| Major Seventh | 11 | C – B | 15 : 8 | Dissonant |
| Octave | 12 | C – C1 | 2 : 1 | Consonant |