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6.5.4
Interval Names: Interval of a 5th, Interval of a 4th, or What?

Harmonic interval names (chord progression names) pose a dilemma. For example, suppose the chord movement is an interval of a 5th. Is that a 5th going up or down? In Figure 45 below, you can see the dilemma. The root is just one of several notes in a chord. So how do you name these harmonic intervals?

  • When you change from the chord G major to the chord C major, is that an interval of a fourth or a fifth?
  • Is it going “up” or “down”?
  • When you change from the chord C major to the chord G major, is that an interval of a fourth or a fifth?
  • Is it going “up” or “down"?
How to name fifth chord progressions up or ascending, vs down or descending.

FIGURE 45 Dilemma: How to Name These Harmonic Intervals (Chord Changes)

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