Music Interval Calculator
Calculate the interval between two musical notes.
The distance between notes
A musical interval is the distance between two notes, and it is the building block of chords, scales and melody. This calculates the interval between any two notes — a third, a fifth, an octave, and so on — naming the relationship between them.
Enter two notes to find the interval between them.
Why intervals are fundamental
Intervals are arguably the most fundamental concept in music theory, because they describe relationships rather than absolute pitches, and music is built from relationships. A chord is defined by its intervals, a scale by its pattern of intervals, and a melody by the intervals between its successive notes — which is why a tune is recognisable in any key, since the intervals stay the same even as the actual notes change. Each interval has a characteristic sound: some sound stable and consonant, others tense and dissonant, and this is what gives music its emotional colour. Understanding intervals is key to ear training, since recognising them by sound lets you identify and reproduce music by ear, and to understanding why chords and progressions work as they do. Calculating the interval between two notes names the relationship precisely, connecting the notes you see or play to the theory that explains how music fits together.
Frequently asked questions
Why are intervals so fundamental?
Because music is built from relationships between notes, not absolute pitches — chords, scales and melodies are all defined by intervals, which is why a tune works in any key.
What is ear training?
Learning to recognise intervals and other musical elements by sound, so you can identify and reproduce music by ear — intervals are its foundation.
Is anything uploaded?
No. The calculation happens in your browser.