whats a perfect 5th

Karen · 01-08-2005

hI
Sorry, I know this has been explained to me before but what is a perfect 5th and what is the difference in sound between that and an octave, I am having trouble distinguishing between them. thanks karen

Danny Poole · 01-08-2005

Music in our western culture is divided into 12 half steps (1 fret or a semitone) per octave (One of the pitch intervals in music. Physically, a note that is an octave higher than another has a frequency that is twice that of the lower one). Each one of these 12 half steps is given a name...

Unison - This is the same note
Minor 2nd
Major 2nd
Minor 3rd
Major 3rd
Perfect 4th
Tritone
Perfect 5th - This note is not as high pitched as the octave
Minor 6th
Major 6th
Minor 7th
Major 7th
Octave - Same note, twice that of the lower one

Even though there are 13 names here, remember that there are 12 half steps so Unison to Minor 2nd is the 1st of the 12 half steps.

I take it that you are doing this Trainer http://musictheory.net/trainers/html/id90_en.html and having trouble hearing the difference between the 5th and octave. My first experience of hearing an octave was in a Pink Floyd song. The bass was playing it and it, I liked the sound so it stuck in my head and when ever I heard an octave played I could recognize it right away because of this song. Perhaps if you use a song like "My Sharonna", the guitar riff in the beginning of that is a perfect example of an octave, then this might help distinguish between the octave and a 5th.

As far a recognizing the sound of a 5th I associate it to the roman coliseum, when there riding in on their chariots and the long horns with the flags on the end blow their tune, it is usually in perfect 5ths. A stupid example I know but it use to help me with the sound of intervals.

Just keep on practicing with the Trainer with only the 5th and the octave ticked, you will eventually hear the difference.

Karen · 02-08-2005

Thanks for the tips
yes I am doing the trainer. karen

Trent · 02-08-2005

there are also some other songs that tou can use to distinguish between the notes.
they are the first 2 notes of the song
M2nd = happy birthday
M3rd = kumbuyah (old hippie song i think)
P4th = Advance australia fair
p5th = star wars theme or The Last Post
M6th = cant remember what it is called but it goes: my bonnie lies over the ocean my bonnie lies over the sea etc etc
M7th = this just sounds bad so no song starts with it
octave = somewhere over the rainbow

hope this helps

p.s. i havent been taught minors yet so i dont know any far them

Karen · 03-08-2005

Thanks Trent.
I really feel like I am missing a few brain cells because I just can't get it. Isn't the sound going to be different with every different note played So what I hear on the trainer will be different to hearing a song. confused

01-08-2005	#1
Karen Newbie ! Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 24 Rep Power: 0	whats a perfect 5th hI Sorry, I know this has been explained to me before but what is a perfect 5th and what is the difference in sound between that and an octave, I am having trouble distinguishing between them. thanks karen

01-08-2005	#2
Danny Poole Administrator Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Townsville, Australia. Age: 36 Posts: 2,357 Rep Power: 10	Music in our western culture is divided into 12 half steps (1 fret or a semitone) per octave (One of the pitch intervals in music. Physically, a note that is an octave higher than another has a frequency that is twice that of the lower one). Each one of these 12 half steps is given a name... Unison - *This is the same note* Minor 2nd Major 2nd Minor 3rd Major 3rd Perfect 4th Tritone Perfect 5th - *This note is not as high pitched as the octave* Minor 6th Major 6th Minor 7th Major 7th Octave - *Same note, twice that of the lower one* Even though there are 13 names here, remember that there are 12 half steps so Unison to Minor 2nd is the 1st of the 12 half steps. I take it that you are doing this Trainer http://musictheory.net/trainers/html/id90_en.html and having trouble hearing the difference between the 5th and octave. My first experience of hearing an octave was in a Pink Floyd song. The bass was playing it and it, I liked the sound so it stuck in my head and when ever I heard an octave played I could recognize it right away because of this song. Perhaps if you use a song like "My Sharonna", the guitar riff in the beginning of that is a perfect example of an octave, then this might help distinguish between the octave and a 5th. As far a recognizing the sound of a 5th I associate it to the roman coliseum, when there riding in on their chariots and the long horns with the flags on the end blow their tune, it is usually in perfect 5ths. A stupid example I know but it use to help me with the sound of intervals. Just keep on practicing with the Trainer with only the 5th and the octave ticked, you will eventually hear the difference. __________________ Remember, If it was meant to be easy everybody would be a great guitarist.

02-08-2005	#4
Trent Newbie ! Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Townsville Age: 15 Posts: 8 Rep Power: 0	there are also some other songs that tou can use to distinguish between the notes. they are the first 2 notes of the song M2nd = happy birthday M3rd = kumbuyah (old hippie song i think) P4th = Advance australia fair p5th = star wars theme or The Last Post M6th = cant remember what it is called but it goes: my bonnie lies over the ocean my bonnie lies over the sea etc etc M7th = this just sounds bad so no song starts with it octave = somewhere over the rainbow hope this helps p.s. i havent been taught minors yet so i dont know any far them Last edited by Trent : 02-08-2005 at 02:57 PM.

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03-08-2005	#5
Karen Newbie ! Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 24 Rep Power: 0	Thanks Trent. I really feel like I am missing a few brain cells because I just can't get it. Isn't the sound going to be different with every different note played So what I hear on the trainer will be different to hearing a song. confused

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