Bruce Bernhart Mandolin Websites

New Fiddle tunes! Green Leaf Fancy / Dixie Hoedown

In Minnesota, Bruce Bernhart has been a mandolin player/enthusiast since the 1980's

A Discussion of Intervals

To understand minor, augmented and dimished, you need to understand intervals. An interval is the distance between two notes. Intervals are always counted from the lower note to the higher one, with the lower note being counted as one.

Intervals come in different qualities and size. If the notes are sounded successively, it is a melodic interval. If sounded simultaneously, then it is a harmonic interval.

The smallest interval used in Western music is the half step. A visual representation of a half step would be the distance between two consecutive frets on the mandolin. There are two exceptions to this rule, as two natural half steps occur between the notes E and F, and B and C.

When a major interval is raised by a half step, it becomes augmented.
When a major interval is lowered by a half step, it becomes minor.
When a major interval is lowered by two half steps, it becomes diminished.
When a minor interval is raised by a half step, it becomes major.
When a minor interval is raised by two half steps, it becomes augmented.
When a minor interval is lowered by a half step, it becomes diminished.
When a perfect interval is raised by a half step, it becomes augmented.
When a perfect interval is lowered by a half step, it becomes diminished.

Bruce Bernhart Websites

Bruce Bernhart Mandolin Websites

Welcome to the Bruce Bernhart Mandolin Websites Updated!

New Fiddle tunes! Green Leaf Fancy / Dixie Hoedown

In Minnesota, Bruce Bernhart has been a mandolin player/enthusiast since the 1980's

Thanks for Visiting the Bruce Bernhart Mandolin Websites!